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THE 



LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE 



OF 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS, 



OF AIETON, 



BY JAMES BACKHOUSE. 

t 



THE MEMORY OF THE JUST IS BLESSED. — PROV. X. 7. 



LONDON: 

CHARLES GILPIN, BISHOPSGATE-STREET, WITHOUT. 
YORK*. JOHN L. LINNEY, LOW OUSEGATE. 

1849. 






Exchang-e 
Western Ont. Univ. Library 

DEC 2 9 1941 



PREFACE. 



The names of William and Alice Ellis, had long been 
familiar to the editor of this volume, in connexion with 
a fund for putting out apprentices, provided by these in- 
dividuals; and he had heard traditional anecdotes of their 
benevolence and piety, but was far from justly appreciating 
their character, until he met with a manuscript, the property 
of Settle Monthly Meeting, containing their correspondence. 
The perusal of this manuscript threw a light upon their 
character, and ou the history of the Society of Friends, 
at the period in which this worthy pair lived, which deeply 
interested him ; and he became impressed with the belief 
that benefit would arise from making tins correspondence 
public. The Friends of Settle Monthly Meeting concurred 
in this belief, and readily allowed the letters to be copied 
for this object. These letters had originally been tran- 
scribed, probably under the eye of William Ellis, with such 
great care, that they required little correction for the press, 
even of a verbal character. With the exception of a few 
passages and a very few of the letters, which did not contain 
interesting matter, they are here presented to the reader. 

a2 



IV PREFACE. 

Short biographical sketches of the correspondents of 
William and Alice Ellis, and of persons mentioned in the 
letters, have been copiously introduced by the editor, under 
the impression that some knowledge of such parties adds 
much to the interest of this kind of correspondence. 

The other materials interwoven with the letters, and rela- 
ting to the life of William and Alice Ellis, have been gleaned 
from various sources ; they are but scanty, yet they help to 
depict examples of Christian faith and practice well worthy 
of imitation. 

The names of places and persons are variously spelled in 
most ancient records ; the spelling of them adopted in this 
volume is that of modern maps and printed documents. 

In describing the travels of Eriends on religious service, 
their journeys are frequently mentioned by the editor as 
" apostolic;" his object in adopting this term was to mark 
such journeys as being undertaken in the true spirit and 
liberty of the Gospel, according to the apostolic practice, 
before the restrictions imposed by man, in the early days of 
the corruption of Christianity, had limited the religious labours 
of individuals to "their own parishes and districts/'' and 
thus introduced a system greatly interfering with that com- 
pliance with the requirements of the Holy Spirit, which the 
true Christian minister often finds laid upon Mm. 



PREFACE. V 

A notice of the first gathering of the Society of Friends, 
in the district comprised within Settle Monthly Meeting, is 
introduced as an appendix, under the apprehension that it will 
be read with interest in connexion with the other portion of 
this volume. 

The editor ventures to hope that few will peruse this 
record of the dedication and zeal of many in time past, 
without having their own devotedness to the Lord deepened, 
and their zeal quickened for the promotion of his cause. 



York, 10th of 5th Mo. 1849. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

Page. 
Locality of Airton. Earentage of William Ellis. Meeting held 
by R. Haydock. Convincement, Character, and Settlement 
of William Ellis. Commencement of his ministry. Marriage. 
Character of Alice Ellis. Notices of John Richardson and 
Mary Erost. Letters from John Real, Thomas Gwin, and 
James Tatham. Birth and death of Jonathan Ellis 1 

CHAPTER II. 
Certificate to Ireland. Letters to Alice Ellis — to Friends of 
Settle Monthly Meeting, — from Samuel Randal and Joseph 
Pike, and to Alice Ellis. Notices of Thomas Trafford and 
James Dickinson 9 

CHAPTER III. 
Letters from Wm. Edmundson — to Wm. Edmundson — to John 
Wynn, — from Wm. Edmundson — to Wm. Edmundson — from 
William Ellis to his Servants — to J. Tomlinson — to some 
Friends in Ireland, with a notice of the building of the 
Meeting-house at Airton. Testimony respecting Roger 
Haydock , 19 

CHAPTER IV. 
Certificates to America. Aaron Atkinson. Letters from John 
Tomkins to William Ellis, — from William Ellis to Thomas 
Aldam, — to John Hall, — and to Alice Ellis. Memoranda 
made at sea. Letters from Francis Plumstead, — John Tom- 
kins to Alice Ellis, — William Ellis to Alice Ellis, — to Thomas 
Aldam 37 

CHAPTER V. 
Letters from America to Settle Monthly Meeting. — Alice Ellis 
to her husband, — William Ellis to his wife. Aaron Atkinson 
and William Ellis separate. Letter from Aaron Atkinson. 
Anecdote from Thomas Story's Journal. William Ellis to 
Thomas Johnson 55 



Vlll CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Page. 
Letters from Alice Ellis to her husband, — Adam Squire to William 
Ellis, — "William Ellis to Simeon "Wilkinson, — to Alice Ellis, — 
Theodore Eccleston to William Ellis, — William Ellis to Adam 
Squire 71 

CHAPTER VII. 

Notes of a Meeting of Ministering Friends, at Burlington, West 
Jersey. Letter to Alice Ellis. Epistle to Settle Monthly 
Meeting. Letters from Theodore Eccleston to Alice Ellis, — 
to Friends appointed as Overseers, — Alice Ellis to her husband 84 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Notice of John Field. Letters from John Field to Alice Ellis, — and 
from Aaron Atkinson to William Ellis. On the Payment of 
Ministers. Letter from William Ellis to his wife. Notice of 
Daniel Gould and letter from him to William Ellis. Notice of 
John Bowstead and letter from him to Alice Ellis. Letter 
from William Ellis to John Wynn 101 

CHAPTER IX. 

Letters from William Ellis to John Chanler and Samuel Bound. 
Notice of Phineas Pemberton. Letters from Phineas Pem- 
berton and William Gabbitus to William Ellis, — from John 
Tomkins to Alice Ellis. Notice of Gilbert Thompson. Letters 
from Gilbert Thompson to Alice Eliis, — from William Southebe 
and Rowland Ellis to William Ellis. Notice of William Fish- 
bourn. Letters from William Fishbourn and Griffith Owen 
to William Ellis. Notice of Anthony Morris. Letter from 
Anthony Morris to William Ellis. Notice of Samuel Car- 
penter. Letters from Samuel Carpenter and Richard Johns 
to William Ellis. John Cowgill to the Offspring of Believing 
Parents 112 

CHAPTER X. 

Letters from William Ellis to Theodore Eccleston, William Ed- 
mundson, and Richard Johns. Notice of John Haydock. 
Letter to Samuel Galloway and others ; — to William Ellis 
from Gilbert Thompson. Notice of Richard Hill. Letters 
from John Tomkins and William Edmundson 131 



CONTENTS. IX 



CHAPTER XI. 

Page. 

Yellow Fever. Notices of Thomas Duckett and Thomas Mus- 
grave. Letteis from Nicholas Wain and William Fishbourn. 
Notice of Roger Gill and his death. Letter from Samuel 
Carpenter. Notice of Edward Shippen. Letter from Edward 
Shippen. John Slack to Alice Ellis. Letters from John 
Tomkins and Theodore Eccleston. Notice of John Wynn. 
Testimony of William Ellis respecting John Wynn 147 

CHAPTER XII. 

Letter to William Ellis and Aaron Atkinson from several Friends 
in New England. Letters from Samuel Galloway, John 
Tomkins, Samuel Carpenter, William Edmundson. Notice of 
Joseph Scarth. Letters from Joseph Scarth and Aaron 
Atkinson to William Ellis. William Ellis to Richard Johns 
and Samuel Galloway 162 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Visit of Samuel Bownas to William Ellis. Notices of Samuel 
Bownas, James Wilson, Gilbert Heathcot, and Jennet Stow. 
Letter from Gilbert Heathcot. Notices of John Butcher, 
Robert Huberstie, and James Waithman. Remarkable 
Fungus. Letters from John Tomkins, with an extract of a 
letter from John Richardson. Notices of John Taylor and 
Jeremiah Grimshaw. Letter from Theodore Eccleston. Notice 
of John Bowron, and letter from him. Notices of Isaac 
Alexander, Thomas Pearce, George Rook, John Ecroyd, and 
Lawrence King. Letter from Isaac Alexander. Letter to 
Nathan Newby, containing advice respecting the Scriptures. 
Notice of Thomas Rodman. Letter to Thomas Rodman .... 176 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Notice of William Biles. Letters from William Biles and Nathan 
Newby. Notice of John Estaugh. Letter from Francis 
Tomes. Notice of Thomas Thompson and letter from him. 
Notice of Josiah Langdale. Letter from John Tomkins. 
Notices of Henry Gouldney and Ann Wilson. Letter from 
Henry Gouldney. Notices of John Fothergill and William 
Armistead. Letter to Richard Johns. Letters from William 
Armistead, John Rodman, and Thomas Aldam. Notice of 
Sir John Rhodes, and letter from him 196 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER XV. 

Page. 
Letter from Francis Plumstead. Notice of Thomas Wilde. Letter 
from John Tomkins and others. Notices of John Blaikling 
and James Baines. Letter from William Edmundson. Notice 
of Samuel Bownas. Letter from Anthony Morris. Letter to 
Abraham Green. Letters from William Armistead and John 
Fothergill 215 

CHAPTER XVI. 

Remarks on Wrong Spirits. Notice of Susanna Freeborn. Letters 
from Leah Newbery and Richard Johns. Notices of Thomas 
Wilson and Joseph Glaister. Letter from Samuel Jennings. 
Notice of John Gratton and letter from him. Letter to Francis 
Tomes. Letter from George Rook. Notice of George Knipe 
and letter from him. Letters from William Edmundson and 
Thomas Rodman 229 

CHAPTER XVTI. 

Notice of a Yearly Meeting at Lancaster by John Kelsall. Decease 
of William Ellis. Notice of Abigail Stott. Remarks res- 
pecting the recording of Ministers. Ministers in Settle Monthly 
Meeting cotemporary with William Ellis. Abigail Stott's 
Testimony respecting William Ellis 245 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

The Testimony of Alice Ellis concerning her Husband. Thomas 
Thompson's Testimony concerning William Ellis. A Brief 
Account of the Life and Death of William Ellis from Settle 
Monthly Meeting. The Testimony of York Quarterly Meeting 
concerning William Ellis i 252 

CHAPTER XIX. 
Meeting-house at Airton. William Ellis's House. Provision for 
the Free Entertainment of Ministering Friends. William 
and Alice Ellis's Gift for Putting out Apprentices. Alice 
Ellis's Legacies and Arrangements for the Entertainment 
of Friends. Decease of Alice Ellis, and Testimony Concerning 
Her. Present state of Airton Meeting, and Settle Monthly 
Meeting 266 

Afpekdix 27& 



Errata, Page 43. — For paragraph respecting Thomas 
Aldam, read, 

Thomas Aldam, to whom the following letter was addressed, 
was the second of that name who was a minister in the Society 
of Friends, at Warmsworth, near Doncaster : he w T as born 
about the year 1648, and became a minister in the twenty- 
fourth year of his age ; he was a very serviceable man in the 
society, and was twice imprisoned for his faithfulness to the 
Lord. In his last illness he expressed a confidence, that 
" through the mercy of God in Christ Jesus, he should have a 
place of rest in the world to come/'' He died in 1722, aged 
74 years. See Piety Promoted, Part VIII. 

The date of the convincement of Thomas Aldam the elder, 
&ould be 1651 instead of 1641. 



LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS 



CHAPTER I. 

Locality of Airton. Parentage of William Ellis. Meeting held by 
R. Haydock. Convincement, Character, and Settlement of William 
Ellis. Commencement of his ministry. Marriage. Character of 
Alice Ellis. Notices of John Richardson and Mary Frost. Letters 
from John Real, Thomas Gwin, and James Tatham. Birth and 
death of Jonathan Ellis. 

Among tlie grassy hills in the upper part of Airdale, in 
the West-Riding of Yorkshire, a group of villages, named 
Airton, Calton, and Scostrop, lie in close contact with each 
other. These villages are six miles east of the town of Settle, 
they are included in the parish of Kirkby Malhamdale, and are 
near to the remarkable limestone cliffs of Malham Cove and 
Gordale Scar. In one of these villages a cotton manufac- 
tory is now carried on; but in former days many of the 
inhabitants were hand-loom linen- weavers. Of this class, in 
the 17 th century, was Stephen Ellis, of Calton, who had 
several children, and whose son WilHam was born on the 
5th of the 8th month, 1658. 

William Ellis lived with his father until he attained his 



*Z LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

sixteenth year, and he then removed to Skipton, having 
engaged himself to John Stott, of that place, who was also a 
linen-weaver, and who, with his wife, had joined the Society 
of Friends. Two years after William Ellis had removed to 
Skipton, Eoger Haydock, of Penketh near Warrington, in 
Lancashire, appointed a meeting at Lower Bradley, two 
miles from Skipton. This meeting was attended also by 
Eleanor Lowe, afterwards the wife of Eoger Haydock, and 
her consin Elizabeth Hodson, both of whom had likewise 
received gifts in the ministry, in the exercise of which they 
were travelling. William Ellis having heard of this meeting, 
signified a wish to attend it, which was readily acceded to 
by his master and mistress. Eleanor Haydock describes this 
meeting, in a Testimony concerning her husband, published 
in 1700, as "a good meeting, where William Ellis and some 
others were convinced." 

Abigail Stott, the wife of the master of William Ellis, in 
a notice respecting the convincement of the latter, describes 
him before attending the meeting at Bradley, as being in 
bondage to the spirit of the world, and much carried away 
by folly and vanity ; but afterwards, not only as convinced 
of the way of truth aud righteousness, but as being, in a 
good measure, brought into obedience to the same ; and 
maintaining a humble, peaceable, and self-denying life, cir- 
cumspect both in his words and ways, lest he should offend 
the Lord." She also says, that he was a good example to 
her servants, and a reprover of vice and the appearance of 
evil in her children, whom he often restrained from vanity 
and that which corrupts youth ; that he often laboured with 
his hands when he might have slept, in order that he might 
get to meetings ; that after he had done his work, he often 
retired into places more free from noise and hurry ; that he 
loved honest-minded Eriends, and all the neighbours who 
were in any measure well-minded, whether rich or poor, but 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 6 

was especially a visitor of the needy ; that through faith in 
Christ Jesus, he denied himself of the glory and friendship 
of the world ; and that he often suffered and was reviled for 
confessing Christ before men. 

The particulars of the sufferings of Wilham Ellis for con- 
science' sake, beyond the common distraints made upon 
Friends for refusing to comply with the unjust, but legalised 
demands, for the compulsory support of a national church- 
establishment, do not appear to have been recorded, except 
in one case. In this case, Abigail Stott says, that " as he 
was passing through Skipton, to attend a meeting for 
worship with his friends, he was taken by violent hands, 
and imprisoned in the tolbooth." How long he remained 
a prisoner does not appear. 

When about twenty- one years of age, William Ellis re- 
moved to Airton, where he resided during the remainder of 
his life, There is reason to believe that in his settling at 
Airton, he established himself in a very humble way as a 
linen-weaver ; but that by industry and good economy he 
gradually improved in his temporal circumstances, until he 
became a master-weaver, employing a considerable number 
of men. He was liberal, according to his circumstances, 
when his means were small, and his liberality increased with 
the increase of his means. 

Soon after his removal to Airton, he came forth in the 
ministry, bearing a public testimony to the Truth of which 
he was made a partaker, and in which he walked uprightly, 
so as to be a good example. In process of time he became 
an able minister of the Gospel, and a diligent labourer in 
the vineyard of the Lord. He cherished a deep concern for 
the maintenance of Gospel order in the church of Christ, 
and while but a young man, began to express what was 
upon his mind in meetings for discipline; but not being 
forward to speak in these meetings, and having a reverent 

b 2 



4 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OE 

regard for those who were in Christ before him, and being 
careful to speak in the fear of God, and in a sense and 
savour of the divine life upon his mind, and demeaning 
himself with great humility, his labours were well received. 

In the early part of 1688, William Ellis was married to 
Alice Davie or Davy ; he was then about 30 years of age. 
Of the early days of Alice Ellis no account appears to have 
been preserved ; but she proved a true helper to her hus- 
band, and was zealously concerned for the promotion of 
the cause of Truth ; and for this object, cheerfully gave him 
up to travel in the Lord's service ; and she heartily united 
with him in acts of hospitality and benevolence : she also 
became a minister of the Gospel, and several times accom- 
panied other Friends in religious visits to different parts of 
the country, but her labours were chiefly exercised in her 
own meeting and the other meetings of Eriends within the 
monthly-meeting of Settle. 

William Ellis travelled in the work of the ministry into 
various parts of England ; but though he had the unity of 
his Eriends in these apostolic journeys, no record of them, at 
that early period of the Society, appears on the minutes of 
the monthly-meeting of Settle, to which he belonged. The 
following letter from John Eeal, a Eriend of Ealmouth, 
addressed to William Ellis, evidently refers to a visit of the 
latter to Cornwall as early as 1690. — John Eeal died at 
Penryn in 1697 ; in the register of Iris burial be is described 
as "an ancient Eriend." — John Bichardson, who is men- 
tioned in this letter, was from Yorkshire, At the time of 
his being in Cornwall on the religious visit here alluded to, 
he would be only about 25 years of age; he laboured dili- 
gently in the Gospel in Great Britain, Ireland, and America, 
and died at Hutton-in-the-Hole, in 1753, aged 87 years. 
See his Journal, also the Tract, No. 42, of the York 
Eriends' Tract Association. — Mary Erost was from North 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 



Shields ; slie also must have been young at the time of 
this visit, and must have attained to an advanced age, as 
she died in 1756. 



" Launceston, 1st of the 1st mo. 1G91. 

To William Ellis. 

My dear and loving friend, unto whom my 
love flows and abounds ! in the blessed and unchangeable 
Truth of our God, very dearly doth my love salute thee ; and 
my desire is, that as the blessed and holy appearance of 
the Truth hath been made known unto us in our day and 
time, so we may walk and live in it, to our mutual comfort 
and consolation. Oh my dear and well-beloved friend! I 
cannot forget the many heavenly opportunities wherein we 
have been comforted and refreshed together ; and our God 
is loving and kind to us, in sendiug his children and 
servants to visit us, in this remote part of the country. And 
now, having this opportunity, and the company of dear John 
Eichardson and Mary Frost, whose labour of love and service 
are well accepted of in these parts, I coidd do no less than 
give thee a few lines, whereby thou mayst know that I love 
thee, and all the dear children of my Father, who are all 
begotten of the Seed Immortal, and born of the Spirit of 
Truth; and that I should be glad to see a few lines from 
thee, as opportunity happens. Blessed be the Lord ! Friends 
in these parts are well, and the blessed Truth prospers; 
though the enemy and adversary of mankind seeks, as ever 
he did, to hinder it ; yet the Lord's power is over all, and 
his seed is growing, and the plant of renown is springing. 
Glory and praise to the name of the Great God for evermore ! 
I have not time to enlarge to thee at present; but this 
take, as the remembrance of my dear and unfeigned love, 



6 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

wherewith I bid thee Farewell. Give my dear love to thy 
wife, though unknown. 

John Beal." 

By the subjoined letter, it appears that William and Alice 
Ellis had a son who was named Jonathan. This seems to 
have been their only child. Thomas Gwin, of Falmouth, the 
writer of this letter, joined the Society of Friends when 
young, and became a laborious and sound minister among 
them : he was the author of several tracts, containing much 
excellent counsel ; one of the earliest of these was addressed 
" To the children of Friends and other young people." He 
died in 1720, aged about 64 years. 



"Falmouth, 2nd of 10th mo., 1692. 

Dear William Ellis, 

Thy acceptable lines I received, and am glad 
that myself with many Friends more, here away, have a place 
in thy remembrance, which will not, I hope, be blotted out, 
though our abodes are at so great a distance ; but that the 
Lord, in whom our fellowship and communion have been, will 
still preserve the same, fresh and lively, while he sees fit to 
continue us in these tabernacles of clay ; and that, as he has 
made us, as it were, monuments of his tender mercy, so we 
may for ever speak forth his praise. According to the 
resolution of a good man of old, who in his prayer said, 
From my youth Thou hast taught me, and now likewise 
when I am old and grey-headed, Lord! forsake me 
not, until I have showed thy strength to another genera- 
tion, and thy power to those who are yet to come ; and 
as the Lord is thus near us, we shall be very near and dear 
one unto another : so dear William, I have communicated 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 7 

thine to pretty many Friends, who are glad with me, of 
thy wife's well-being, and of the birth of thy son Jonathan : 
the Lord, if it be his will, cause him, as he grows in years, 
to grow in grace, and in his Divine favour. As for my part, 
I have been exceedingly exercised, by the removing of my 
little daughter, on whom I had placed too much affection ; 
but it hath been the Lord's will since that, to give me 
another, who I desire, may grow up in God's fear ; for I 
have a true unity with thee in thy concern on account of 
Friends' children ; and a jealousy sometimes on my mind, 
lest the ensuing generation receiving the profession of 
Truth in a traditional way, and being unacquainted with the 
wonders of the Lord, which he has wrought for his exercised 
people, in their travels through the wilderness, may be ready 
to sit as those who are at ease in Zion, and trust in the 
mountains of a formal profession. The Lord, I beseech 
him, turn away this careless and lukewarm spirit from among 
the offspring of Iris people ; and engage the young generation 
in zeal and fervency, in his service. As to Friends here, 
though some are too careless, yet there is a remnant whose 
delight is in the Lord, and to whom he delights to clo good, 
and to refresh with the visitations of his presence, whereby 
their strength is renewed, season after season. And the 
spirits of some are concerned, and their mouths sometimes 
opened on God's account, being made witnesses of the opera- 
tion of his Divine Power, by which they are stirred up to 
speak forth his praise. I am, dear William, thy friend and 
brother in the fellowship and bond of Truth. 

Thomas Gwin." 



The following expression of condolence shows that William 
and Alice Ellis were soon called upon to give up their only 
child. James Tatham, the writer, was a native of Wray, 



8 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

near Lancaster, and was a brother of John Tatham, men- 
tioned in page 9 : he had settled as a grocer in White- 
chapel, London, where he died in 1703, aged 52 years. 

" London, 15th of 5th mo. 1693. 
Pear Friend, 

I received thine, whereby I understand that 
thou got well home, at which I was glad ; but I was sorry 
to hear of the loss of thy son ; but consider his great happi- 
ness ; he has passed his sojourning here in a little time, and 
is entered, without doubt, into his Father's bosom, where 
there is peace and joy for evermore. — I shall not be tedious 
at this time, hoping thou wilt be sensible by this, what is in 
my heart. We must leave all to the Lord, and to his 
ordering hand of Providence. 

James Tatham." 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 



CHAPTER II. 

Certificate to Ireland. Letters to Alice Ellis — to Friends of Settle 
Monthly Meeting, — from Samuel Randal and Joseph Pike, — and 
to Alice Ellis. Notices of Thomas Trafford and James Dickinson. 

. The following certificate was given to William Ellis, 
on his visiting Ireland. It is well worthy of notice, as 
a document of this kind, of very early date, and as ex- 
hibiting the christian love and the soundness of the faith of 
those who issued it, as well as their lively sense of the right 
order of the Gospel. The John Tatham who signs it, was a 
predecessor of the present clerk of Settle Monthly-meeting, 
who also bears the same name. 



"At our Monthly Meeting, at Settle, in the county of York, 
the 5th of 10th mo. 1694. 

To our Eriends in the unchangeable Truth of our God, in 
the nation of Ireland, whom he hath called to believe in the 
light of his Son : Grace and peace be multiplied in and 
among you. 

Whereas William Ellis, a friend and member of our 
meeting, unto whom the Lord hath committed a gift in the 
ministry of the word of life, and sent him forth many, or 
several times in his work and service, hath put it into his 
heart, and laid a concern upon Ins mind, to go to visit the 
meetings of Eriends in Ireland, of which he hath given us 
to understand ; and also how he hath ordered and disposed 



10 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

of his outward concerns to the care and comfort of his wife, 
and his wife's willingness and freeness to give him up in 
that service, to our satisfaction. All these things being 
weightily considered, in the fear of God by us, and we 
finding nothing but that all was well in all things concerning 
him, do certify you, or whom it concerns, that we have good 
and perfect unity with him, and do commend him unto you, 
to receive him as a brother in the Truth, and fellow-labourer 
in the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to 
whom be glory for evermore. 

Erom your Eriends and brethren in the Truth, met at 
the Monthly Meeting at Settle, in England, the day and 
year above written. 

Signed on behalf, and by appointment of, the meeting, by 

John Tatham." 

The progress of William Ellis in his visit to Ireland, may be 
gathered from the following letters. They all exhibit his care 
for the honour of God in all things, temporal and spiritual, at 
home or abroad. The notice in the letter to his wife, of the 
Earewell which some gave him, on his setting out on this 
journey, indicates, that his uncompromising integrity was 
not cordial to some who shrunk from faithfulness to the 
Lord. Such have in all ages been a source of trial to the 
spiritually minded, and have themselves sustained grievous 
loss, in regard to spiritual comfort and many other blessings. 

Thomas Trafford, who is mentioned in the following 
letter, appears to have paid a religious visit to Ireland 
in 1690, and subsequently to have settled there : he re- 
sided at Wicklow, and was committed to the jail in that 
place, in 1701, at the suit of a priest, for tithes, and kept 
there two years. See Gough's History of Ireland, and 
Besse's Sufferings. 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 11 

"Daiford, in Ireland, 26th of 11th mo. 1694. 
Dear Wife, 

After my dear love to thee, by this thou mayst 
know that I am now in Ireland, but I stayed at Liverpool 
two weeks, because the wind served not. It was some 
exercise to my mind, but when we got to sea, we went well 
away, and got to the Irish coast in about thirty-six hours. 
There were several passengers that were given to much 
wickedness, which was a great disturbance to my mind ; also 
I was sick ; but when we got to land, I soon mended, and 
my mind rose again. Our landing was at Dublin, the 21st 
instant, where we were kindly received by Eriends, who 
received account of me from England. The report of our 
coming to shore got soon into the city, and several Eriends 
sought us out. The first man I knew was honest Thomas 
Trafford, whom I found in the city, who seemed more than 
ordinarily glad to see me. The night we were on the seas, 
were two Whitehaven ships taken by a privateer, I suppose 
in or near the way we went, but we escaped all dangers ; 
and now being here with Eriends, the goodness of the Lord 
hath come upon me, in the like manner as it often did in my 
own country, when the exercise of this journey was upon 
me. So calling to mind all these tilings, with more than 
Ell now speak of, doth much confirm me, that my service 
for the precious Truth is, and will be acceptable before the 
Lord, for which my soul hath much travailed ; blessed be 
his pure and holy name for ever and for evermore ! Now 
the next thing that I have to remind thee of is this, that 
thou take care of thyself : first of thy mind, that thou do 
not overbow it ; and that thou take care of thy body, that 
thou do not overwork thyself : it will be enough that thou 
see the work done. Twice I dreamed of my men, how that 
they were not quiet one with another. Tell them to be sure 



12 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

that they live in love ; and though I be not with them, yet 
the presence of my Master will be with them, to guide in all 
the ways of quietness, if they do but incline to his counsel. 
My dear love to them all : and whatsoever thou seest would 
be my place to speak if I were present, speak thou ; and as to 
doing, do in like manner ; and let none despise thee. Truth 
is one, in wife and husband ; and I know none fitter to do 
the husband's work than a wife : fail me not in this my 
desire, for my soul is concerned for the honour of God, let 
all the unruly say what they will. My dear love to Eichard 
"Wilkinson and wife and family ; and be sure thou keep open 
the door of kindness ; and let nothing be wanting that you 
can serve one another with. Mind my love to Thomas 
Stockdale and his family, and to old Phineas Parkinson who 
comforted me, and to Friends generally ; and let me have a 
full account how Friends manage their affairs, and what is 
come of William Hartley and Prancis Atkinson, and whether 
James Conyers be quiet or not. If you let in that unruly 
spirit, it will lay the vineyard desolate ; and the wall being 
thrown down, the boar of the wood will enter in, and then 
will devour every green tiling ; therefore, be zealous that 
the wall which is God's salvation, is not broken down. I 
am sensible that as the mountains are about -Jerusalem, the 
Lord is round about his people : and as to my zeal for the 
Truth, that hath been upon me when among you, I am more 
and more confirmed ; because the* goodness of God doth still 
open upon my spirit. My mind is greatly eased of all those 
things that I spoke of to thee, which engages my mind, to 
love and serve the Lord with all my soul and strength : and 
further, it is great ease to my mind, that thou parted so 
freely with me ; for though we be separated one from another, 
vet I well consider what it is for; for, for this cause, even 
discharging our duty when required, our days may be 
lengthened to live together to the praise of God, and the 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 13 

comfort one of another. My dear love to thyself and to all 
my men, bidding them have a care of an angry mind, that 
leads out of the fear of God. My love once more to Richard 
Wilkinson and his wife and children ; I earnestly desire his 
edge may be kept sharp at all times, that he may help his 
fellow in the day of battle, who doth fully intend, by the 
strength of the Lord, not to fail him in any of his exercises, 
he may meet with. Bid George Leernin keep out of foolish 
pity, which will blind the eye ; that is his danger ; and as 
to such as love this world more than the Truth, blend not 
with them, let them pretend what they will : the Lord hath 
opened mine eye to see beyond that spirit. The farewell 
that some gave me, when I think of it, saddens my heart j 
but who they are, it makes no matter, for they have lost their 
place in my mind. One thing more I have to tell thee of; 
James Dickinson hath gone through that great city of London, 
to cry against it. My love to sister Jennett Davy and Jennett 
Stall, and bid them mind the time, to war when they have their 
armour on. So with dear love I rest, thy truly loving husband, 

William Ellis/' 

James Dickinson, referred to in the preceding letter, was 
from Cumberland : he became a minister in early life, and 
laboured diligently in the exercise of Iris gift, in various 
parts of the world ; he died in 1741, aged 82. The cir- 
cumstance alluded to by "William Ellis is recorded in James 
Dickinson's Journal, Ed. 1847, page 143. 

The following epistle was probably addressed to Eriends of 
Settle Monthly- meeting. 

" Cork, the :26th of 12th mo. 1694. 
Dearly Beloved Emends, 

Though I be separated in body, yet is not my 
travail ended for your s^ood and eternal welfare : but as mv 



14 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

mind was sometimes exercised when with yon for the pros- 
perity of Truth, so are my earnest desires still, that whereas 
yon have received the Truth, every one with all carefulness 
may walk in it ; and as I have often exhorted, so I would 
put you in mind again, that yon meet often together, and 
when met, labour to be rightly exercised in mind towards 
God in your particular gifts, and that none give way to an 
indifferent mind or a conceited spirit, which blinds the eye 
of the pure mind ; but every one keep to the power [of the 
Holy Spirit], so in that you will be enabled to withstand 
that spirit that leads to sleep and unconcernedness, which 
some have been too much inclined unto, to the great dis- 
honour of God, their own great hurt, and to the trouble 
and grief of honest Friends ; for where Truth is not lived 
in, in the inward parts, that spirit takes place, and so brings 
forth such fruits. Also be tender to every green thing that 
appears, and labour that such things be weeded out of your 
assembly as cumber and hurt ; for this I do see, that neither 
a man nor a meeting shall ever be right before God, till evil 
be purged out of the heart. Let the notion of religion be 
what it will, those that walk in the Truth, do, and will 
receive the goodness of God when met together : it is such 
that take delight to come together on God's account, and 
cannot cry, ' ' My business, my business ; " neither will they 
be hindered by it, for they know the great business is to 
increase their strength in the Truth. Another thing I 
desire, that where the great wolf hath fastened or may fasten 
his teeth upon any, and they be not destroyed, be sure the 
wound be truly dressed, and then pour in the oil of God's 
kingdom, which men by all their wits cannot prepare or 
make ready. And as my mind hath often been concerned, 
so it is, that when met together on Truth's affairs, which is 
no less than the helping to set up the government of Christ, 
that as the heart is given up to worship, so the outward 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 15 

things he is to have the disposing of, and not we. Pray 
what means the Prophet, when he saith, "The ships of 
Tarshish shall wait to bring thy sons, and they of Sheba 
shall come and bring their silver and gold, and lay it down 
at thy feet," or -words to this effect. So the sons were not 
to come only, but the glory of all outward things with them : 
so then by this, Christ Jesus is to have all, body, soul, and 
substance ; and the world will never be brought to its right 
foundation till those things be so. Labour to set up Christ' s 
government amongst you, and then I know that whatsoever 
makes for the Truth and the promotion of it, will be earnestly 
pursued. Let the Spirit bring it forth in whom it will, old 
or young, high or low, rich or poor, all is and will be one. 
The Lord hath opened my understanding to see that there 
is a great exercise to be come to and gone through, in setting 
up Christ's kingdom, besides the preaching of the Truth in 
words ; so all walk in the Truth, then peace will be found 
one with another ; for Oh ! my soul mourns with a bitter 
lamentation for all those that walk not in it, and measure 
themselves by themselves, and take the rules of their own 
making and walk by them. But this I have in spirit — the 
Lord is risen in the greatness of his strength, and hath shaken, 
and is terribly shaking the heavens, and will mightily shake 
the earth, with the thunder of his power ; and this is to make 
ready a people for Himself to dwell in, that in the end he 
may bring them to that kingdom that shall never be shaken : 
and these are they that do walk, and more and more will walk 
according to the rule and government of his Power, for which 
my spirit travails, that it may be set up amongst you. One 
thing more hath opened in my understanding, and is of some 
weight upon my mind, that you be all found in that which 
gives ease to the souls one of another, — that is, quickened in 
the seed of Christ, both in conversation and time of worship ; 
and give no occasion to those that are without ; so peace and 



16 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

love will abound from God, and will be multiplied one to 
another ; and in the completing of these things my soul will 
be more glad than in the increase of this world, if I live to 
see you again. I am much comforted in my travel in this 
kingdom, because the Lord's power often comes upon me, 
by which I am enabled, in body and mind, to complete that 
which is fallen to my lot in my day. My love is dearly 
commended to all honest Friends, and great is my travail for 
such as are not what they should be. This from your truly 
loving friend, who labours with all his strength to exalt the 
government of Christ in his generation. 

William Ellis." 

Both the Eriends whose names are signed to the following 
letter, were Elders in Cork Meeting, and were highly ser- 
viceable in the discipline of the society. There is a notice 
of Samuel Randal, in the Sixth Part of "Piety Promoted ;". 
he died in 1718, aged about 64 : and an account of the life 
of Joseph Pike, who died in 1727, aged about 72, was pub- 
lished by John Barclay, in 1837. 

"To William Ellis. 

Cork, 14th of 1st mo. 1695. 
Dear Eriend, 

Thine of the 26th of the 8th mo. to Samuel 
Eandal, came to hand last week, the receipt of which was 
gladness to us both ; and according to thy desire, we shall 
acquaint Eriends of thy love to them. Dear friend, we take 
notice with refreshment to our spirits, of the aboundings of 
the goodness of the Lord with thee : and believing it will 
be comfortable to thee to hear how it is with us here, we 
have freedom to let thee know, that Truth doth prosper and 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 17 

grow in the hearts of several in our meetings ; and the 
Lord's work goeth on amongst us : blessed and praised be 
his holy and worthy name, who is strength in time of 
weakness, and maketh rich those that are truly poor ! Oh ! 
that we may for ever be preserved in pure humility ; that 
Truth may more and more enlarge itself in our hearts ; and 
self in all its transformings for ever be abased, is the earnest 
desire of our souls ; and believing the fervent prayers and 
breathings of the righteous prevail with the Lord, we desire 
to be had in thy remembrance, in the time of thy near ap- 
proaches to him. We remain thy truly loving friends, 

Samuel Bandal. 
Joseph Pike." 

"The 30th of the 1st mo. 1695. 
Dear Wife, 

After my dear love to thee, for so it is, by tins 
thou mayst know, that I am now at Lisnagarvey, where 
Thomas Swire lives, and have visited Friends South and 
West, and have but eight meetings to go to, and then I hope 
I shall be clear of Ireland ; only I think to see Friends at 
the half-year's meeting, so may spend time till then, and then 
I hope to see England again. The Lord's power hath greatly 
borne me up ; I know not that I was ever before in so much 
need to try its strength ; and in the greatest need of all, it 
hath brought me through, even as through deep and rough 
waters ; so that I can say, with a freshness in my heart, The 
Lord is my shield, my fort and my tower, my stronghold, my 
rock and my deliverer, his goodness is now become my deep 
delight, even as a morning song, so that my spirit doth ex- 
ceedingly rejoice in God's goodness ; and I am persuaded he 
will give me to see through things in myself, and also to see 
through that which stands in Truth's way, in many others. 

c 



18 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

My love to Richard Wilkinson, his wife and children ; to all 
my servants, and to Abigail Stott ; and bid them labour to 
get to week-day meetings ; and there to get hold of the 
sweetness of the Truth. My love to sister Jennett, and to 
Daniel, and bid him order his affairs so that you may have 
his company at week-day meetings. There is a brave gift 
in him, if it be but stirred up to increase. Bid Solomon 
love the God of Ins father, and of his father's servant ; if so, 
He will be found of him in all his straits. My love is to all 
Friends that love Truth. I see we shall have brave times, 
if that old devil be but cast out, that sits so close, and hath 
so many faces and parts, and is sometimes like a lamb. This 
from thy truly loving husband, 

William Ellis." 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 19 



CHAPTEE III. 

Letters from Wm. Edmundson — to Wm. Edmundson — to John Wynn, — 
from "Wm. Edmundson — to Wm. Edmundson — from Wm. Ellis to 
his Servants — to J. Tomlinson — to some Friends in Ireland, with a 
notice of the building of the Meeting-house at Airton. Testimony 
respecting Roger Haydock. 

In the letters contained in this chapter, a fervent zeal for 
the promotion of the Gospel is exhibited, in connexion with 
much excellent counsel ; and the opening of a concern to 
visit America is touched upon. The care of William Ellis 
and some others over the flock of Christ is also strikingly 
exhibited, and in William Ellis's Testimony respecting Eoger 
Haydock, some interesting particulars of his own religious 
course are given. 

William Edmundson, the writer of the following letter, 
was a native of Westmoreland, but resided during the greater 
part of his life in Ireland : he became convinced of the sound- 
ness of the Christian principles held by the Society of Eriends, 
through the instrumentality of George Eox and James Nayler, 
in 1653. His character as a faithful disciple and minister 
of Christ, is set forth in a journal of his life, travels, suffer- 
ings, &c. published after his decease, which took place in 
1712. He was about 6S years of age when he wrote the 
following letter, and nearly 85 when he died. 

" Eossenallis, the 23rd of the 5th mo. 1695. 
Deau, Wm. Ellis, 

I received thy letter two days ago, and am 
glad to hear of thy safe coming home, and of thy well-being. 
Einding things well in thy family is great encouragement to 

c 2 



20 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

be diligent and vigilant in the Lord's service, in his vineyard 
and husbandry. There is much work to do, and it is fair 
weather ; the Lord having commanded the winds and storms 
to cease, so that it is a calm time ; and the Lord's labourers 
that he hath called into his vineyard, and gifted with his 
Holy Spirit, for the work of the ministry, are to follow his 
work and business close, and finish their work in the day 
time, and to be rewarded with ' ' Well done, good and faith- 
ful servant," and not to stand idle in the market place, about 
the affairs of this world, and so neglect the Lord's work and 
service. There is need of good workmen, both in doctrine 
and discipline ; for the old enemy is hard at work, sowing 
tares, briers and thorns, to surfeit men's minds and under- 
standings ; and his old engine is this world, and the things 
and kingdom of it, to twist and draw men from the Lord's 
business, and cumber them in the affairs of this life, and load 
them as with thick clay, so that they cannot follow the Lord 
and his work, truly and faithfully, as they ought to do. And 
here many sit down at ease, in the flesh and will, and in 
their own time and place ; and this is not right : and they 
lose a good and right understanding, as in a mist, and lose 
their way, and are clouded and darkened. So whilst the 
light shines, all are to mind the Lord's business ; and He is 
and will be with them to the end, who is our Overseer, 
Director, and Counsellor, who is with his workmen, that are 
diligent in his garden, vineyard and husbandry ; that put 
their hand to the plough, and look not back, but look to the 
Lord and the prosperity of his blessed work of reformation, 
and love it and delight in it, more than in all visibles, that will 
come to an end. And blessed be the Lord ! he owns his 
work and workmen, that seek not their own, but the honour 
of his great Name, and the comely order of his Gospel, which 
keeps all in their ranks, from first to last, in the church and 
body of Christ, to do their service, in their places, according 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 21 

to their ability, gift and calling. And blessed be the Lord ! 
a concern comes upon many, for close order and discipline in 
the church ; and the Lord blesses their endeavours and care 
for his honour, and the good of all, and gives them wisdom 
and understanding beyond expectation ; and his heavenly 
power makes way through all opposition, to their great en- 
couragement. Everlasting praises to his name for ever ! 
Friends in this country are generally well, and Truth's dis- 
cipline goes on closely ; and the Lord renews the strength 
of such as are concerned to maintain it ; and I believe they 
will not be weary in their well doing. My true love is to 
thee and thy wife, and all honest, true-hearted Friends. 
Remember my kind love to them that may inquire after me. 
I bless the Lord, I am in health, and yet able, beyond the 
common course of nature in these latter ages, considering 
my years and hard exercises attending me from my youth. 
And I do not see but if the Lord hath yet more service for 
me to do, he can give ability to perform his will in old age, 
as well as in younger years. So in the fellowship of the 
Gospel of Christ, thy true friend and brother, 

Wm. Edmundson," 

" Airton, the 26th of the 6th mo. 1695. 
Dear Eeiend, W. Edmundson. 

By this thou mayst know that I got thine on 
the 23rd inst. and am glad to hear of thy welfare. I have 
been much better in my mind since, and I bless the Lord in 
my heart for his kindness that still opens upon his servants, 
to give advice to his people, whereby they may be stirred up 
to do their service in their day : and I am the more glad 
because he is giving advice and counsel to such as he hath 
really called out of the world and the entanglements of it, to 
advise and counsel others, lest we should sit down and do 
our own business, and seek our own gain, to fill our own 



22 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

treasuries with, and let the Lord's garner be empty ; and by 
thus doing, grow emptier in ourselves, and so grow weaker 
in ministering to others. And for want of the good part 
being deeply reached unto, sometimes flatness hath too much 
prevailed. My soul hath at times travailed under a great 
weight, because of these things, though but a young man, 
and a mean man in mine own eyes ; yet blessed be the Lord ! 
I see that he is stirring up the spirits of some of his people 
to the end, that Friends may yet go forward, as to the 
enjoyment of the sweetness of the hidden life, and in the 
exalting of the peaceable government of Christ Jesus ; though 
there are some, I believe, who think there is enough of that. 
I had a letter last week from Theodore Eccleston, a Friend 
in London, with desires to hear of my journey in your country, 
to which I have given answer, and concluded with a few 
lines as under-written : — " My soul rejoiceth to see that the 
day hastens, that Babel with her gain, by which the great 
men of the earth have been made rich, is now coming into 
remembrance before God ; for he will stop her gain ; and 
now is the Lord about to try who they are that will cry, 
alas ! alas ! and who they are that will rejoice over her, be- 
cause the hour-of her judgment is coming on. As upon the 
great men of the earth, so on poor tradesmen, who work, 
some in wool and some in silk, and some in fine linen ; now 
it is coming on, to try all who will offer up freely, and who 
they are that will say, If I lose my gain I cannot be sup- 
plied ; so then I cannot live : and I believe not only on the 
above-named, but also on such as work in wood and stone, 
and iron and: brass, and silver and gold, with those that make 
gain on the souls of men. My spirit rejoiceth in God 
Almighty, to see that his Arm is awakened, and hath put on 
strength. The Lord stir up the spirits of his people, as he 
did of old, that distinction may be truly made between dross 
and fine gold." Now as touching my inquiry of the "West 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 23 

Indies travel, because thou art desirous to know my meaning : 
that very matter hath sometimes glimmered in my mind, now 
going on three years, which was before my son died ; but 
lest I should lay hold on an uncertain motion, I have been 
of that mind, to keep my mind from tampering with it, lest 
I should be muddled in so weighty a matter, and miss my 
right way, and lose that good reward that my soul earnestly 
labours for. Now in thus doing, sometimes I have found 
little concern in my mind about it, and at other times some- 
thing hath seemed to draw my mind towards that country 
with a flowing of kindness to the inhabitants thereof, in 
like manner as my mind hath been, when it hath been to 
visit Mends in other places ; and if I must confess to the 
truth, as it is in secret, I dare not say, but it is as full of 
kindness and well-wishings as ever to that country. Now I 
know that as I have not answered my place to the full, as 
I ought to have done, the hand of the Lord hath been strong 
and terrible upon me, though I have kept it from all living 
but my wife ; so that under the weight of his sharp chas- 
tizing hand, I have cried earnestly to him that if he would 
bring me up in my place, to stand in his delightful presence, 
I would be willing to run his errand, by sea or land ; and 
that which he hath given me should, in like manner, be at 
his disposing ; and thus he hath wrought with his gracious 
hand, to the snapping that cord in pieces, which drew my 
mind to the world. I know not that T ever opened my mind 
so much to any in my life. Now the journey is weighty, and 
requires certain evidence, so that when the matter seems to 
draw me forward, something in me desires that I might stay 
the time, till a fit companion offers, that may be to my com- 
fort : and if it be my lot, I hope the Lord in time will find 
out one, or else will give me both ability and boldness in the 
great and weighty concern. Now if a fit companion be made 
ready, I am so free from the world that it need not hinder 



24 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OE 

me, neither doth my wife at all. I have said little or nought 
to any of the elders in our country, but to John Wynn, whom 
I take to be an honest, weighty Friend. I desire thee to 
send me a few lines with what speed thou conveniently canst, 
with thy judgment or sense in this matter, for the better in- 
forming of my understanding ; for it is my pleasnre to do 
that which is acceptable to the Almighty. 

Wm. Ellis." 

"To John Wynn, 

Airton, the 10th of 7th mo. 1695. 
Dear Friend, 

By this know that I would fain see thee, 
for thou hast been and art often in my mind; for my 
love hath been much to thee since the first of my con- 
vincement, because thou wast an instrument in God's hand, 
for my help in that day ; and the subject that opened upon 
thy mind comes often into my remembrance ; it was, That 
all were to prize their time, for it is as swift as a weaver's 
shuttle. And although this was many years ago, yet it lives 
upon my mind as much as ever ; and not only the memory 
of it, but it is in my mind to answer to it : for I plainly see 
that it is as swift as a weaver's shuttle, and there must be 
devout faithfulness, where time is truly prized and answered. 
Therefore considering the great loss on the account of neg- 
lecting it, and the great and joyful reward that is to be 
received in truly prizing time, makes my soul travail to answer 
my place in time ; and I oft say, if I had it to spend over 
again, I could spend it to better advantage : however this I 
know, that the Lord is a God of great kindness and tender 
mercy, and delights to see judgment work out into victory ; 
and that the hearts of his people, whom he hath blessed, should 
be freely willing to venture all for his Name, even soul, body 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 25 

and substance. Dear John, my heart is set to serve the 
Lord, and with all my might to exalt his Truth ; for he hath 
greatly wrought for my help every way ; both in opening 
upon my mind the sweetness of his Truth, and in setting me 
at liberty in outward things, and in keeping my mind over 
the spirit of the world, so that in all the good that is come 
upon me every way, I do not give the honour to that which 
some call Good luck, or Good fortune ; but only to that great 
Name that is over every name, and over all powers. 

Wm. Ellis." 

Neither Robert Wardell nor Eobert Barrow, who are 
mentioned in the following letter, lived to return to England 
from their transatlantic visit. Eobert Wardell, who was 
from Sunderland, in Durham, had travelled much in Europe, 
in the work of the ministry, before visiting America : he 
died in Jamaica in 1696, aged 60. After his decease, 
Eobert Barrow, who was from Westmorelaud, sailed for 
Pennsylvania : he was shipwrecked in the Gulf of Elorida, 
and suffered great hardships among the Indians, by which 
his health was greatly impaired. He died in Philadelphia, 
soon after arriving there in 1697, at an advanced age. 

" Eossenallis, the 18th of the 8th mo. 1695. 

Dear Wm. Ellis, 

This day I received thine from Airton, dated 
the 26th of the 6th mo. last. And as to that of the West 
Indies : it is good to mind the Lord's motions and his 
openings, in the light and love of Christ, and to be given 
up in his light to follow where he shall lead in his work and 
service ; and in his light, his will and mind are cleared up in 
his own time, to his servants'' understanding, that are 



26 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

devoted to do his will in his time and season, and divorced 
from this world's care and cumber, which is as thick clay, 
and loads the minds of those that are in its spirit, so that 
they cannot run in the ways of God's commands. And, 
dear William, I know that there is great need of faithful 
and skilful labourers in the Lord's vineyard, in those parts 
of the world, and especially relating to church government 
and close order in the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ ; and the service of it is often with me, and how it may 
be, I shall see in the Lord's will and time, who gives ability 
to perform what he requires. I received a letter from 
Robert Wardell and Robert Barrow, from Philadelphia; 
they are both well, and the Lord blesses their service. I 
have also letters from Barbadoes. I was lately at Dublin 
with several country Friends ; it being the time of the Par- 
liament sitting; and Priends' attending there is often of 
great service for the ease of Priends, especially about oaths, 
in several acts. The Parliament is generally courteous and 
loving to us, and ready to do us good and to serve us in any 
respect ; they seem to regard us in every act they pass, in 
which we may be any way concerned, and nothing can move 
in the house against us, but we presently have notice of it. 
The Lord is working mightily in the hearts of the Govern- 
ment, for his Truth and people : his Name is to be reverenced 
and magnified for ever ! The Lord, through his comeliness, 
hath beautified his people, and made them amiable in the 
minds of men ; and the Lord is honouring such as seek his 
honour and the public good, laying aside all particular and 
self-interest, and endeavouring, according to ability and gift, 
to prefer the kingdom and government of Christ Jesus. And 
a godly concern comes upon many honest-hearted Priends, 
for the close Gospel order ; and the Lord causes it to prosper, 
to their great encouragement and satisfaction, though there 
want not those that would live at ease and liberty in their 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 27 

wills ; but Truth prevails, and the testimony and holy dis- 
cipline of Christ, in the authority of his Eternal Power, aie 
over all, which brings all under, and crowns the labour of 
his faithful servants. Our Province Meeting is a week hence, 
and our Half Year's Meeting at Dublin is soon after. I 
hope, if the Lord will, to be there. Thou mayst write at 
large to me. So with my dear love to thee, thy wife, and 
all true-hearted Priends. 

Wm. Edmundson." 

" Airton, the 14th of the 11th mo. 1695. 

Dear Wm. Edmundson, 

By this know that I received thine from the 
Half Year's Meeting, which was very acceptable to me and 
my wife ; but I would gladly have seen it before it came to 
hand, and am well pleased with thy advice about that great 
and weighty concern ; and I do intend, by the Lord's assis- 
tance, to do accordingly. Now as in relation to Priends in 
that country, it hath often been in my mind, the great good 
that might be done in those parts, by four or six honest, 
weighty, concerned Priends, not only in doctrine but in 
discipline, which I see more and more is too much a wanting 
in many places ; and if it be brought to pass, that the Lord 
should stir up Priends in that service, and he makes way for 
me, I should be glad to enjoy such company as might com- 
plete such a work, for it is truly begun. I bless the Lord 
with my whole heart ; for his goodness is often upon me, 
which makes me incline after his counsel, that I may answer 
my service to the full : and though I have a trade, I find 
much strength to live over it, and loose from it, so that if the 
above-named concern, or any other, fall to my lot, I have little 
to hinder me. The Lord hath wonderfully helped me in 
things outward, so that want of that, need not hinder me. 



£8 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OE 

And I do resolve, by the Lord's help, the aboundings thereof 
shall not hinder me, neither. One thing I would request of 
thee, that is this, that if the intended journey grow up to be 
completed in thee, then let me have the knowledge thereof ; 
and as often as thou canst till then, give me a few lines, 
as time affords. I shall forbear to tell thee the benefit 
thy letters are to me. I was at the last Lancaster Quarterly 
Meeting; to my great comfort, I beheld their comely 
order in their affairs ; and this I see, they go fast forward, 
and grow too strong for all that would oppose their discip- 
line : there were many glad hearts to see that wisdom and 
counsel that opened in several, in order to set up the govern- 
ment of Christ Jesus. We have had many public-friends 
with us of late, John Gratton, for one, who hath visited our 
country fully, and hath done great service amongst us, and 
is still under an exercise for Ireland. A concern begins to 
stir in several here away, for good order ; and if we had but 
Elders that were concerned to lead the way, things would go 
fast on in our country ; but keep what I say to thyself. It 
is some benefit to our Monthly Meeting, that we are so near 
Lancaster Quarterly Meeting. George Myers hath been 
more likely to die than to live, and still is out of order : 
some give account that he is low and tender hearted, of 
which I am glad. I hear something that Eoger and Eobert 
Haydock have some mind to come to York Quarterly Meet- 
ing, of winch I am glad. If the Lord permit health and 
liberty, I intend to see Friends eastward in Yorkshire, in a 
little time. Let me know if thou intend for the Yearly 
Meeting, with anything else thou seest may be for our good. 
Here are many Friends who have an endeared love for thee ; 
and who bless God that it was thy lot to come into our 
country. 

Wm. Ellis." 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLI3. 29 

From William Ellis to his servants. 

"London, the 16th of the 5th mo. 1697. 

To Simeon Wilkinson, with the rest of my servants. 

These lines may let yon know that a concern 
is mnch npon my mind, and hath been since I left you, that 
yon may truly prize the day of God's kindness that is put 
into your hand ; and as it hath pleased God to give you, or 
the most of you, the knowledge of his Truth, that you be 
sure you prize it ; and I know it hath been by the Truth, 
that my heart hath been enlarged to grant you all the liberty 
that I could any way see hath been for your good, and the 
growth of your love to the Truth, and that you might be truly 
brought to a state of private retirement in yourselves, so 
that you might be the more able to serve the Lord in your 
day. I think it should be often in your thoughts, the care 
that hath been upon my mind for keeping week-day meetings ; 
and when my heart hath been full of the goodness of God 
therein, that I have laboured often to withhold expression, 
that I might see how you, with others, might be exercised 
in mind. And let me further tell you, it is now your day 
as to the great kindness of God, and as to liberty to go to 
meetings to renew your strength : therefore consider it as it 
is, and keep your minds out of thoughts that are foolish and 
vain : and do not thiuk the privileges given are so indifferent 
that they are not to be highly prized ; for I do say, that if it 
be not thus with you, but you walk in ease of mind, and 
liberty in thoughts, and take care for your preferment and 
self-pleasing in the things of the world, and what and how 
you shall do to accomplish your interest iu other matters, more 
than for the interest in Him who hath been Master, Shield, 
and Strong Tower ; then the day of exercise will come upon 
you, and distress will take hold of you ; and though you may 



30 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

accomplish your interest in other matters, and in things which 
you desire, it will bring with it divine displeasure, with grief 
and trouble of body and mind : and though you should keep 
under the name of Truth, yet the soul will be under death's 
power, and the mind overcharged with the cares of this life ; 
and then will your master's counsel come to your remem- 
brance. Pray consider the reason why there are so many 
that fall asleep when met together to worship God, and you 
will find they have split upon this rock : pray consider it in 
time ; I am sure that if you be diligent in serving the Lord, 
it will be your pleasure and crown in old age. If some of 
those whom I had before you, had done thus, I am certain 
things had been better with them than they are at this day. 
This is written in kind love, and I remain, yours, 

Wm. Ellis." 

' ' To John Tomlinson. 

London, the 24th of the 5th mo. 1697. 
Loving Friend, 

It hath several times been in my mind to write 
unto thee since I came unto this town, of things that bear 
with some weight upon my spirit, concerning Friends of our 
own meeting ; for although I am far from you, yet a concern is 
upon me for your prosperity and establishment in the blessed 
Truth. And as thou art one whom we thought most fit to be 
joined with the other two Friends as overseers, therefore I send 
thee, in true love, these following lines. Now, whereas it 
hath been God's great kindness, to raise up a people to serve 
him in sincerity and truth ; it is also manifest to all such as 
retain a true sense of him, that it hath been his continued 
care towards them for their further establishment, to open 
many good and wholesome rules and orders amongst them, 
to the end that they might come more and more to be settled 
in the root of the matter ; therefore the thing that is much 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. . 31 

upon me is, that you, into whose hands these people are 
committed, to have that oversight of them, may truly see 
those things put in practice, which are opened in you, 
and which are read at your Preparative Meetings ; so that 
things which are wrong may be righted, and things that are 
weak may be strengthened. My desire is, that there be no 
indifferent minds, nor a putting off things one to another, 
nor a saying, It is not my business, or so ; for by so doing, 
many hurtful things have crept in, which have brought in 
coldness of love to Truth, and to the real service of it, so that 
death hath taken hold of many ; so I am truly fearful that 
salvation will be wanting to them at last, which fills my 
heart with great sadness many times ; therefore discharge 
yourselves in the sight of God, of those things that are 
committed to your charge. That saying of the Lord, by the 
mouth of his true prophet, is sometimes in my mind, " That 
when the sheep went astray, the Lord set overseers over 
them, and if they did not discharge their duty to them, he 
would require the flock at their hands." So I desire thee, 
with the concerned Mends, to watch to keep all disorders 
from amongst you ; and labour to see Truth come up in its 
ancient purity and comeliness. Thou in thyself knowest it 
hath been my concern for many years, and while I am with 
you, I shall still labour to the utmost of my strength, and 
not in speaking only ; there are enough of those who speak, 
except they spoke from a deep sense of life, and in a true 
fellowship with, it in themselves. The Lord's work grows 
great upon me, so that it is like to put me out of all business, 
and my mind is made to bend to it ; so that the time draws 
near, that I must leave wife and friends, and bid you all 
farewell. So with kind love to thee and thy brethren, and 
friends that inquire of me, I shall remain, with dear love to 
my wife, thy true friend, 

Wm. Ellis." 



32 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

The following letter is without an address, but it seems to 
have been written to Samuel Eandal and Joseph Pike, in the 
course of a short interval in which William Ellis was at home, 
previous to sailing for America. The meeting-house noticed 
in it is a stone building, capable of holding about a hundred 
and fifty persons ; it was built by William Ellis at his own 
expense ; and he subsequently conveyed it to Eriends. Some 
of the work about tins meeting-house seems to have been com- 
pleted at a later period. There are on a stone above the door 
the initials W. A. E. 1700. Previous to the erection of the 
meeting-house at Airton, William Ellis seems to have at- 
tended a meeting held in a neighbouring village, named 
Eilston. This meeting was originally called Scalehouse 
Meeting : it was established about 1653, chiefly by Eichard 
Scostrop, who, after persecuting Friends sorely, became con- 
vinced of the soundness of their principles, joined the society, 
and preached the faith which once he destroyed, travelling 
for this object into various parts of Europe. Eilston and 
Airton long constituted one Preparative Meeting. In 1791 
the meetings were held alternately at Eilston and Airton. 
In 1792, the meetings at Eilston ceased, and Eilston meeting- 
house was sold in 1813. The meeting-house at Airton is 
still occupied by Eriends. 

« Airton, the 24th of the 6th mo. 1697. 
Dear Eriends, 

After my dear love to you, by this know that 
my wife had yours before I got from London ; and I have 
read it over, and am greatly comforted to hear of your welfare, 
and to feel your love still to increase to the Truth, and to 
know your labour for the prosperity of it. The tenderness 
of your love to me for the Truth's sake, hath wonderfully 
overcome my heart ; and I know not how to answer it to 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 33 

the full ; but am fully satisfied the Lord will give you a 
reward here and hereafter, if you keep firm to the end. My 
heart is full of tenderness at this time, in the remembrance 
of you, and your constant zeal and love to the Truth. The 
Lord prosper his work amongst you ! And dear Friends, 
know further, that I am got home, to set my affairs to rights, 
with the intent for the journey you know of, having oifered 
my whole in secret, and my life for a sacrifice ; and all the 
thought I take is, that it be but pure enough to offer to the 
gracious God that hath had mercy upon me, and thus far 
hath saved and delivered me out of all my straits. I have 
had it long in my mind, therefore have I laboured with my 
soul, body and substance, that God hath given me, to bring 
Truth up into dominion over all the country where I live, 
and to bring things to rights in our particular and monthly- 
meetings, where I have met with opposition at times : yet I 
bless the Lord, and rejoice in his strength, he hath made 
bare Ins arm to help, and has raised many that have been 
my helpers, so that divers good things are set on foot amongst 
us ; on that account I am therefore wonderfully easy, and 
shall commit the management to the honest men, with the 
weight of my charge that God hath put upon me, to see that 
things be kept in order, and that the Life may rule over the 
congregation. Tor though Truth hath been preached, and 
many convinced, yet for want of a fervent mind, and faith- 
fulness, it might have been said, as the prophet spoke con- 
cerning the people of old, Jacob is low, by whom shall he 
arise ; so that here hath been great need of faithful labourers, 
that the sweetness and marrow of the Gospel may be brought 
up to people's understandings. I gave you a hint before, 
how I had got up a meeting-house ; but now shall give a 
small account of the good service we have had since we got 
it in order. Many public-friends come to us, and great 
numbers of people at times ; and the Lord's goodness opens 

D 



34 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OP 

wonderfully, so that people declare their satisfaction one to 
another; so that I am in great hopes, great part of our 
valley will be convinced ; and if they will not be converted, 
the fault will be their own. Thus the Lord hath graciously 
answered the secret travail of my heart. Dear "William 
Edmundson will give you account, if time permit ; he hath 
been at my house two nights, and hath had a great service 
in our country. This is with my dear love to you and your 
wives, and friends as you see meet, as though I named them. 
So concludes, your real friend, 

Wm. Ellis." 

"William Ellis's Testimony concerning our dear Eriend, 
Roger Haydock. 

I have much in my heart concerning our dear Eriend, 
Roger Haydock, though I cannot express to the full what 
I know of him ; but however, I shall say the less, not ques- 
tioning, but that there are testimonies in the hearts of many 
Eriends to his worth and faithfulness, and service in the 
blessed and holy Truth ; wherein we have believed and felt 
the blessed effects of our faith, to the great comfort and con- 
solation of our souls. 

It was about twenty-one years, the last Third Month, 
since I was convinced of the blessed Truth. And though I 
have since that day, had many instructors in Christ, yet I 
have not many fathers ; for in Christ Jesus was I begotten 
by him through the Gospel and the operation. of the Holy 
Spirit, which did effectually open a door of entrance in my 
heart, as it opened a door of utterance unto him. It was at 
a meeting, at Bradley, near Skipton in Yorkshire ; where he 
declared the day of God, which was broken forth in this age, 
in great splendour to enlighten mankind. He spoke many 
things which reached the states of many in that day ; alluding 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 35 

to the state of Israel of old, who passed through the sea, and 
saw the wondrous works which the Lord wrought for their 
deliverance ; yet some forgot him, and made themselves idols 
of their jewels and ear-rings ; saying, These be thy gods, O 
Israel, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, and then 
sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. With these 
and many more precious words, he did sound forth the glo- 
rious Gospel. I was abundantly satisfied that day, with 
what I felt and heard ; so I took heed unto the Word in my 
heart, unto which I was directed by him ; and it grew and 
increased ; and my faith increased, and I became, according 
to my small measure, obedient thereunto ; and my soul was 
in love with the Truth, and the followers thereof, especially 
with him who had been the instrument of publishing the 
same to me : and I could say in truth, Blessed is he that 
cometh in the name of the Lord. I saw his zeal, and was 
sensible of the sincerity of his heart, and of his endeavours 
in his lifetime, to promote, to his utmost, the great name 
of God. 

And when, through Providence, I came to be more inti- 
mately acquainted with him, I was confirmed in my sense of 
him, and his love to God, and zeal for the Truth, and have 
in many private opportunities with him, been abundantly 
satisfied in the sweet society and fellowship we have enjoyed 
together. And I am fully persuaded that his root was in the 
Truth, and that he was sensible that the Root bore him ; and 
he grew therein, and laboured much to bring people to be 
established upon the sure Rock, Christ Jesus, the Root of 
Life, upon which the true church is built : and I know his 
labour in that respect was great, and the Lord saw his faith- 
fulness, and poured out upon him the spirit of wisdom and 
understanding, and of a sound mind, to promote good dis- 
cipline and comely order in his church, that she might be 
like the true church of old, which John spoke of, under the 

d 2 



36 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

similitude of " a woman who was clothed with the sun, and 
had the moon under her feet ;" which glory did far excel 
the glory that attended Solomon in his best state, for the 
sake of which, the Queen of the South came from far, and 
was overcome with the sight thereof. 

Thus did he labour and travel in his day ; spending him- 
self that the church might be adorned with the comely attire, 
and ornaments of the Holy Spirit, and that the name of the 
Lord Jesus, her head, might spread to the ends of the earth. 

Blessed be the great God of heaven and earth, that raised 
up him, and many more, who could hold the sword and be 
expert in the war, like the three-score valiant men of Israel, 
who kept the bed of Solomon (Cant. hi. 7, 8.), or like the 
men of Benjamin, who could sling to an hair's breadth and 
not miss. (Judges xx. 15, 16.) 

The Lord raise up more such faithful labourers in his 
vineyard ; and give them wisdom and zeal, to train up those 
who shall believe in the Truth, in sound discipline, as well 
as in word and doctrine, that he may restore unto the church, 
Judges as at the first, and Counsellors as at the beginning, 
that men may call them, The City of Righteousness, the 
Faithful City. (Isa. i. 26.) 

Wit. Ellis/' 
London, the 20th of the 6th mo. 1697. 

Eoger Hay dock died on the 8th of 3rd month, 1696, 
aged 53. 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 37 



CHAPTER IY. 

Certificates to America. Aaron Atkinson. Letters from John Tomkins to 
"William Ellis, — from William Ellis to Thomas Aldam, — to John 
Hall, — and to Alice Ellis. Memoranda made at sea. Letters from 
Francis Plumstead, — John Tomkins to Alice Ellis, — "William Ellis 
to Alice Ellis, — to Thomas Aldam. 

The certificates with, which. William Ellis was furnished 
on his going to America having been preserved, copies of 
them may suitably introduce the correspondence connected 
with this engagement. He was accompanied across the 
Atlantic by Aaron Atkinson ; and they travelled together 
until the illness of this individual, and some variety in their 
religious engagements, occasioned them to separate. "William 
Ellis appears to have felt released from the exercise which, 
had attended his mind respecting the West Indies, noticed 
in the previous letters, and to have returned to England 
before his friend. 

Erom Settle Monthly Meeting, in the County of York, in 
Old England, the 1st day of the 7th mo. 1697 : To 
our friends and brethren in the unchangeable Truth of 
our Lord Jesus Christ, in America, or elsewhere (whom 
it may concern), whom He hath called to believe in the 
light of his Son : Grace and peace be multiplied in 
and amongst you. 

Now these are to certify you, that our dear friend and 
brother, William Ellis, hath given us to understand, that it 
hath been in his mind, in the love of God, for several vears, 



38 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

to visit Friends in America ; and we having had knowledge 
of his labours and travails for the Truth's sake, do hereby 
certify,, that he hath been a faithful labourer in the work of 
our Lord Jesus Christ, not only in word and doctrine, but 
in propagating of every good work ; according to his mea- 
sure, labouring to bring up good order and sound discipline 
in the church ; to that end, that all those that are come to 
the knowledge of the Truth, may be established upon that 
sure Foundation which cannot be shaken, so that the ancient 
purity and comeliness that was in the church of old, may 
again be restored in this our day. Thus it hath pleased the 
Lord to exercise him in his work and service, so that we can 
truly say our unity with him hath been and is, in that which 
is beyond words. And if it please the Lord that he come 
safe amongst you, our desire is, that he may be received by 
you as a faithful brother and labourer in the work of Truth ; 
hoping that as he hath been concerned amongst us, he will 
labour amongst you, according to that ability God hath given 
him, in word and doctrine, and what else the Lord may be 
pleased to concern him in, for the glory of his Name, and 
the good and benefit of his church and people. 

Signed on behalf of our aforesaid meeting, the day and 
year abovesaid, by 

Samuel Watson George Lemin 

John Moore Thomas Wild 

George Atkinson John Moore 

John Armistead Adam Squire 

John Battersbie Henry King 

John Kidd Christopher Foster 

John Robinson Thomas Carr 

William Windle Thomas Chapman 

Richard Ibason Thomas Stockdale 
Richard Wilkinson 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 39 

We whose names are here under-written, being members 
of the Quarterly Meeting at York, being this day acquainted 
by our dear friend, William Ellis, of the intention of his 
travel (if the Lord permit) into America, upon Truth's ser- 
vice ; and having also seen a Certificate from the Monthly 
Meeting to winch he doth belong, as on the other side, con- 
cerning the same, do hereby further signify unto all Friends 
to whom this may come, that we have unity with him in his 
undertaking ; having known him to be a man of integrity 
and a sincere lover of Truth and the prosperity thereof, and 
a faithful labourer therein amongst us, according to the 
grace bestowed upon him, since the day and time the Lord 
gave forth his word unto him and made him a publisher 
thereof ; in whose testimony we have been many times truly 
comforted when with us ; and hope it will be so with all 
honest Friends where the Lord shall order him. 

This from our Quarterly Meeting at York, this 22nd of 
the 7th month, 1697. 

Subscribed on the behalf of our said meeting, by 

John Blaykling Michael Lazenby 

John Taylor John Jepson 

Thomas Aldam Marmaduke Beckwith 

Thomas Musgrave John Burgess 

Stephen Wynn George Canby 

John Hall Francis Harrison 

Thomas Thompson John Walker 

John Loft Bossall Middleton 

Thomas Pinder William White 

Wm. Sharpe James Eich 

Stephen Hunter Alexander Hopwood 

Thomas Greene John Smith 

Peter Hardcastle John Burleigh, sen. 



40 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OE 

Michael Milner Francis Thompson 

Thomas Buck "William Thompson 

Abraham Kindell John Harding 

John Bradford Thomas Johnson 

Charles Cannabie Thomas Hammond 



Aaron Atkinson, the companion of William Ellis, was 
born at Moss Thorn, in the parish of Stapleton, in Cumber- 
land, in 1665, and was educated among the Presbyterians : 
he was convinced of the soundness of the principles of 
Eriends, when about 29 years of age, by the ministry of 
Christopher Story, at a meeting at Hetherside in the parish 
of Kirklington. He became a minister of the Gospel whilst 
but a young man; and his friends testify that " he was the 
means of bringing many, not only to the acknowledgment 
of the Truth, but to sit under the teaching of Christ our 
Lord, the only Shepherd and Bishop of souls." Whilst in 
the vigour of life, he travelled much in the service of his 
divine Master. He died at Leeds, where he had for some 
time resided, in 1740, aged about 75 years. 

John Tomkins, the writer of the following letter, was 
a minister amongst Friends, and the compiler of the first 
three parts of "Piety Promoted," in the fourth part of 
which there is a notice of him : he died in London in 
1706, aged about 43 years. 

"London, the 1st of the 10th mo. 1697. 

Dear Eriends, W. Ellis and A. Atkinson. 

These are intended as a memorandum, to put 
you in mind of my request, — That if it please God you 
arrive at West Jersey, in America, you would be pleased, for 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 41 

my sake, if I have any interest with yon, to visit the family 
of a relation of mine in that country, and stay at their house 
as many days as your service will permit. Give mine and 
my wife's dear love to them, their children and their father. 
My kinsman's name is John Wills, son of Daniel Wills. They 
dwell upon Northampton Eiver, not far from Burlington, in 
West Jersey. John Wills' wife's name is Hope ; she is my 
first cousin. I love her in a double relation, both according 
to the flesh and the spirit ; for I hear by several honest 
Friends, that she loves the Truth, and walks according 
thereunto. When you are there, take account from them of 
their welfare, both as to things of this life and to the Truth ; 
and if you see that there be need of advice, give it them ; I 
doubt not but they will tenderly receive it. And forget not 
to let me hear from you by all opportunities, especially after 
you have been at their house ; and let me know how they 
fare. I shall be glad to answer your love and care in this 
matter, in any service I am capable of ! And now, my dear 
friends, the living God, the Lord of heaven and earth, who 
hath gathered the wind in his fists, and whom the proud 
waves obey, in the limits he hath set them, be with your 
spirits, and preserve you by his almighty power, from all 
dangers, inwardly and outwardly. You know in whom you 
have believed, and on whose errand you are going ; trust in 
Him alone, He is sufficient for all things. And go forth 
boldly in his Name. I know you are not accustomed 
to Saul's armour; but I believe you have tried the 
Name of the Lord, and found it to be shot-proof. The 
Name of the Lord is a shield to the righteous, a breast- 
plate and a helmet of salvation : in short it is the whole 
armour of God. It is also a strong tower; it never 
failed any that trusted in it ; therefore get into [the au- 
thority of] his Name, whenever you declare his Name, 
for power accompanies his Name, and it will make way for 



4& LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

the word preached, that it may profit them that hear it. It 
was this which gave David victory over Goliath, though that 
giant, in his pride, despised him because of the lowness of 
his appearance, What ! come to me with a staff and a sling ! 
but David came in the Name of the Lord, and it was that 
which gave him victory, and made those mean weapons suc- 
cessful, to the bringing him gasping upon the earth, who 
defied the armies of the living God ; and it was this Name, 
through faith in it, by which those of old, blunted the 
edge of their enemies' sword, quenched the violence of fire, 
and put to flight the armies of the aliens : it was preaching 
in this Name which was the cause that such multitudes were 
converted at once : it was this also which tamed the rough 
and cruel jailers, and so softened them towards their poor 
prisoners for the Truth, that they washed their wounds 
instead of wounding them any more ; and which so pricked 
them to the heart, that they cried out, " Men and brethren, 
what shall we do to be saved?" Their answer was, "Be- 
lieve on the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved, and thy 
house." This is that Name in which all true preachers 
went forth, and converted souls to God ; and this is the 
Name that you have to preach, with the apostles of old, who 
declared that there was no other Name given under heaven 
whereby men must be saved, but the Name of Jesus. Dear 
friends, I was not aware my pen should run thus far before 
it stopped, when I first began to make my request to you in 
the beginning of this paper ; but 'tis an effect of the love of 
God in my heart to you, and for your success in the work — 
that good work whereunto you are called, and in which you 
are concerned in spirit ; therefore in the same love accept it 
from me. And when you are sailing upon the mighty waters, 
let your souls be lifted up to the Lord for your native country, 
which you have left, and for your intimate friends and 
brethren, and for the church of God in general ; that those 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 43 

who have believed may be preserved steadfast in their faith, 
and those who are yet strangers may come to believe in the 
same Name wherein we have found salvation; that the 
numberless numbers, which John said no man could number, 
may be gathered from the four winds ; that the kingdom of 
our God and the power of his Christ may come, and he may 
rule and govern in all the kingdoms under heaven. Fare- 
well, dear friends ! In the love of God and holy fellowship 
in the Truth, doth my soul salute you, and take my leave. 

I am your friend and brother, and one who prayeth for 
the prosperity of Zion. 

John Tomklns." 

Thomas Aldam, of Warmsworth or Warnsworth, near 
Doncaster, to whom the following letter was addressed, is 
said io have " received the glad tidings of life and salvation, 
by the preaching of that eminent and faithful servant of 
Jesus Christ, George Fox/' in the year 1641. He became 
an eminent minister among Friends, and was one of the first 
of their society who were imprisoned on a religious account 
in York Castle, by the high, but unchristian and unreasonable, 
professors of Christianity in that day. He died in 1660. 
See Piety Promoted, Yol. I. Part 2. 

"To Thomas Aldam. 

London, the 4th of the 10th mo. 1697. 

Dear Friend, T. Aldam, whom I dearly love ; 

These are to let thee know that the time of 
our departure from hence is this day. Aaron Atkinson is 
like to be my companion. We have had a fine time in this 
city. Here is a Friend out of Essex, and another out of 
Southwark, that go with us in the same ship. Friends are 



44 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

generally glad of our going : and the prayers of the church 
are put up for us : and for my part, I am greatly encou- 
raged ; and many cautions come up in my mind, which I see 
are for my great profit, and suitable to my exercise. It fills 
me with admiration to consider what strength is come upon 
me ; so that the nearest thing I know of, is nothing to me 
in a manner to leave behind ; but it is God's work, and not 
mine. Now if thou goest to York, remember my dear love 
to Friends in the meeting in the morning, and be sure to stir 
Mends up to faithfulness. The Lord hath raised up many 
of low degree in the world, and blessed them with the gift of 
his Holy Spirit, and has given them substance enough to 
answer his requiring ; and now if we forget from whence we 
are, and for what we were raised up, it will greatly displease 
the Lord; this is often before me, and makes my mind 
travail, to answer the end for which the Lord raised me up, 
that so I may go through to the end, and die in the favour 
of God. I desire that Friends may pray for us, in that 
spirit to which the Lord never said, Nay; and I desire thee 
with faithful Friends, to put Friends forward in good order 
and sound discipline; it is for that my mind hath long 
travailed ; and I am glad that it increaseth in our county, 
as in many other places. I see there are many that God is 
raising up, to work the work of their day, in truth and 
righteousness. 

With dear love to thee, thy wife, children, and Friends 
with thee, I shall remain, thy real friend, 

Wm. Ellis." 

John Hall, of Skipton, to whom the following letter is 
addressed, joined Friends by convincement in a silent meet- 
ing : he became a minister in the Society, and was a sufferer 
with many others in that day for his faithfulness to Christ, 
his Lord and Master. 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 45 

" To John Hall, of Skipton. 

Dear Eeiend ; 

After dear love to thee and honest Friends who 
know me, by these thou mayst understand, that I am, with 
three Friends more, now going off to sea, in order to our 
voyage to America, in the service of Truth. And now, when 
I am about to leave my native country, some things come 
into my mind, with weighty concern for the prosperity of 
Truth, and things relating to our duty and service in the 
church, for the good of the members thereof, and particularly 
concerning- mv old dame, Abigail Stott. Considering the 
station she hath been in, and that in which she is now (she 
has had service for the Truth above thirty years) let her 
be helped in her present decayed condition. She told me she 
was willing to give up all she had towards the satisfaction of 
the creditors, and desired that Friends would assist her in 
the management of her affairs : so I would entreat thee to 
use thy endeavours to forward Friends in the matter, to help 
her to make money of what she hath, to pay as far as it will 
go. It was of old, and is still, a part of the pure religion, 
which is undented before God the Father, to assist the widow 
in her distress, and to relieve the fatherless. If for her sake 
alone it is not sufficient to move Friends in this charitable 
act, let them remember the faithfulness of him that is gone — 
I mean her deceased husband. My heart is in exercise and 
sorrow, lest any blemish should come upon his name, who is 
in his grave. If it be too much for one or two to undertake, 
I hope you will find seven Friends or more, if need be, to 
assist in this matter. It was so of old, that men of honest 
report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, thought it not 
beneath them to take care of widows, and serve at tables, 
whilst others gave themselves up daily to prayer and to 
the ministry of the word. I desire that neither thou nor 



46 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

Friends may take what I have thus signified amiss, it being 
in the tenderness of my mind. My love to Abigail Stott, 
Ann Kingshal, and thy wife ; they helped me much in the 
day of my convincement. "With my love once more to thy- 
self and Eriends, I rest thy real friend, 

Wm. Ellis." 

" Erom Deal, on the Kentish Sea Coast, 
the 8th of 10th mo. 1697. 
Dear and Loving Wife, 

After dear love to thee, by this know, that I 
thought good to give thee a few lines, to let thee know where 
I am, because I have no more known time to do it. I left 
London last seventh-day, and have ordered my affairs so that 
I hope thou wilt not be uneasy at all, as I gave thee account 
before in a few lines ; and as I said before, I am still cheer- 
ful as to my travel, and hope abides with me, that the Lord 
will help me through what is before me. Eriends at London 
are much concerned for our welfare. Now my dear love, 
thou knowest how the Lord's goodness hath attended and 
borne us up many times, when we have been low and under 
great exercises ; and He hath extended mercy in a large 
manner, so that I find all too little that I can do for his 
Name. Now that I am separated from thee, thou art like 
to have thy exercises to the full; therefore I desire, if 
possible, that thou mayst live nearer the Truth than ever, 
and travail for the increase of it in thyself; thus thy under- 
standing may be more opened by it, so that thou mayst be 
clearer than ever, to speak to anything that will advance its 
fame : and above all, see thou keep thy secret retirements, 
that thou mayst be certain thy strength is renewed. I see 
that will stand when all words and discourses come to an 
end. In the secret of thy mind pray for my support, and 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 47 

that I may be saved out of the enemy's reach, both in myself, 
and from unreasonable men, and from evil tongues. I have 
had much in my mind to write, but time permits not. Pray 
remember my kind love to [Friends, as Richard Wilkinson 
and his wife, Thomas Atkinson, Tliomas Stockdale, and 
Adam Squire. Tell them to see that Truth's affairs be 
managed with a lively zeal and fervent love. The time is 
coming when they will see the good effect of it. I have 
made remarks in my mind, how things were left in order, 
and if I live, I intend to see what improvement is made. 
Pail not to set Truth over all, to thy utmost strength ; and 
if I should not come back, fail not to pay my father's debts 
when thou hast paid mine. My love to all my men ; bid 
them love Truth with their whole hearts : and if they serve 
thee with sincerity, the Lord will greatly bless them. So 
with dear love to thee, and all Friends as thou seest meet, I 
remain thy truly loving husband, 

Wm. Ellis." 

Memoranda of William Ellis, made at Sea. 
"The 4th day of the 9th mo. 1697.— Then was the time 
I left my country, and took my journey for London, in order 
to visit Eriends in America. I staid in London till the 4th 
day of the 1 Oth month following, and then went to Deal, 
near to Dover. On the 7th day of the 10th month, I came 
on ship-board, in the Downs, and lay there wind-bound till 
the 1 5th, and then set sail for America with a fair wind. On 
the 21st, a boy fell overboard into the sea, and was drowned, 
and about the same time another died and was cast over, and 
buried also in the sea." 

"The 7th day of the 11th mo. 169J. 
. Now concerning Collections, let every one give freely of 
his substance ; and let none complain of being overcharged, 



48 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OP 

neither deny their substance to the church, neither say, I 
have but very little ; but remember Ananias and Sapphira. 
For as God knows the secrets of all hearts, and how to 
minister thereunto, so he knows all your substance better 
than you yourselves, and how to add to it. Also let all 
Friends be careful in meetings that Friends sit in fear and 
reverence before Almighty God, and in that, speak, one by 
one, to anything that comes before them; and let every 
word be duly considered before it be spoken. So will your 
meetings grow in gravity ; and the Lord will give the spirit 
of a sound mind to guide you in all your concerns." 



" The 9th day of the 11th mo. 169f . 

We had a meeting, and through deep travail of mind, 
the Lord answered and filled my heart with the sense 
of the good things of his kingdom. And the night fol- 
lowing, I awaked, when the seas tossed ; and immediately 
a fresh feeling opened upon me that the Lord's power 
was over the seas, so as to still the strong waves thereof. 
And on the next day wind came up in a fresh, steady gale, 
and pleasant, so that we ran above six miles in one hour. 
Blessed be the Lord for his goodness ! Now I see, it is easy 
to drink the cup of sweetness and comfort ; and many will 
be thankful to retain it ; but to drink a bitter cup of exercise 
at the Lord's hand, many are unwilling ; yet it is good to 
labour to take it thankfully, at the hand of the Lord : for 
those that do so in patience may be sure that the Lord will 
give them to drink of the cup of consolation." 

Francis Plumstead, the writer of the following letter, 
was an ironmonger, in Duke's Place, Houndsditch, London, 
and a useful member of the Society of Friends : he died in 
1710, aged 60. 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 49 

"London, the 25th of the 10th mo. 1697. 

My dear and nearly beloved Friend, ¥m. Ellis ; 

T hope thou receivedst my few lines in the 
Downs, but because I am not certain thereof, I make bold 
to send these unto thee, desiring of the Lord that they 
may meet thee in health, according as thou canst desire ; 
also that thou mayst meet Truth and the affairs thereof 
according to thy souFs travail ; that in thy journey outward 
as well as homeward, thou mayst have comfort and consola- 
tion, so that all may work together for the comfort and 
consolation of those that love Truth, and the honour and 
prosperity of it, above all things whatsoever. God knows 
my very secret, inward cry and prayers are for this end, both 
in the particular and in the general. Oh, that nothing may 
ever befall any that have in part obtained an earnest of an 
immortal crown, to eclipse it in the least measure ! but that 
all may so run as to obtain the full enjoyment of an heavenly 
and glorious crown, that never can fade or be eclipsed ! — 
I desire thy prayers for a poor travailing soul, who thus 
makes bold to visit thee with a few brotherly lines outwardly, 
which can be read only and truly in that which is beyond 
w r ords. As thou left things with us, so they continue to be, 
and are likely to increase, as far as I see. Many exercises 
are likely to attend us, because of the old men that would 
be great, and who, because thereof, are likely to be yet 
greater burthens to those who would have Truth only to pre- 
vail and be greatest of all, and self and man, and the man's 
part of no reputation ; so that there is a contrariety which 
can never be reconciled: the one is for, "I am ancient 
and was in the Truth before thou wast born, and therefore 
be quiet young man;" the other looks not at old or 
young, but at Truth only, both in old and young, at 
home and abroad, in the particular and in the general, the 



50 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

prosperity and increase of which, is all they desire. Our 
dear love is to thyself and to all dear Friends ; so I remain 
thy dearly loving friend, 

Francis Pltjmstead." 

John Tomkins to Alice Ellis. 

"London, the 3rd of the 12th mo. 169 j. 
Dear Friend ; 

With dear love to thee, for thy dear husband's sake, 
who is dear to me for the love and zeal I felt in his heart for 
the promotion of that ever blessed Truth, which God hath 
brought us to the knowledge of; and which I doubt not but 
he will continue to use his utmost endeavours to promote. 
And doubtless he shall not lose his reward, who so cheer- 
fully can forsake wife, house, land, and all that is near and 
dear in this world, for Christ's sake and the Gospel's ; and 
I am firmly persuaded also, that thou wilt have a share of 
the same reward, who so cheerfully hath given him up in 
this service, as having regard to the carrying on of the good 
work which God hath begun on the earth ; believing that 
the Master, on whose errand he is gone, can preserve him in 
his journey, and bring him safe back again to thee ; or else, 
if He please to order it otherwise, is able, and will, no doubt, 
make up the loss to thee in Himself, in giving thee a plenti- 
ful portion of Ins love, life, and presence, even in this world, 
besides in the world to come, an everlasting inheritance of 
glory with his saints and servants, world without end. 

John Tomkins." 

" Maryland, the 22nd of the 1st mo. 169$* 
Dear and Loving Wife ; 

After my true and unfeigned love to thee, 
which doth so abound that I cannot express it with ink and 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 51 

pen, these come to let thee know, that once more the Lord 
hath extended mercy to me, and brought me to my desired 
haven. We have passed through such perils by sea that I 
cannot express it ; and when we came within two miles of 
land, we had like to have been wrecked on the shore ; but 
through all, God hath delivered us ; for which my heart is 
thankful to the Lord. When I set my eyes on the country, 
my heart was so filled with the Lord's goodness that I was 
hardly able to contain. We landed the 14th instant, and 
have been at several meetings, where we were gladly received 
by Friends and other people ; and the Lord's goodness hath 
so filled my heart, that I have wanted words to express it. 
This day we had a meeting where many Friends came, and 
others ; where my heart was opened in the Word of Life, to 
sound forth the day of salvation ; my heart was more glad 
than of thousands of gold and silver ! Aaron and I are for 
going towards Yirginia and Carolina, in about five or six 
days' time, and we intend to come back in three or four 
months, and go for Pennsylvania. I cannot express my 
solid satisfaction that I have, which makes my faith and 
hope strong, that the Lord will assist me. I suppose I shall 
be about the countries of Pennsylvania, about ten or eleven 
months from this time ; so send me a few lines by way of 
Liverpool or London. Theodore Ecclestone will take care 
to send to me, or forward it. I will endeavour to clear 
myself as I go from place to place ; and I hope the Lord 
will assist me to do it. Now I desire thee to live near to 
the Truth ; and by it thou wilt be preserved over all the 
troubles that may come upon thee for want of my assistance ; 
and labour to keep thy family in good order ; and if any 
body seem to be contentious, do what thou canst to quit thy 
hand of them ; and labour to bring things into such method, 
that if it please God to bring me back, all things may be 
managed to our ease and comfort, that, if possible, we may 

e % 



52 LIFE AND CORUESPONDENCE OF 

serve Truth more than ever. And labour in God's wisdom, to 
subdue evil in thy family and in the meeting ; but on the 
other hand, when thou hast cleared thyself, be sure not to 
fret thyself at evil doers ; but commit thy cause to God, who 
will ease thee in his time. I know we have had our part of 
trouble, but the Lord hath set us thus far over it all ; and I 
hope he will preserve us to his heavenly kingdom. Pail not 
to send me a few lines with anything that is needful ; and as 
to the present station thou art in, hear all things, bear all 
things, and suffer all things ; and in due time, if thou faint 
not, thou wilt overcome all things. I have abundance in 
my mind to say to thee, but time fails, but I hope to write 
again in three or four months time. So with my love to 
Friends in general, I rest, 

Thy truly loving husband, 

Wm. Ellis." 

"-To Thomas Aldam. 

Maryland, the 22nd of 1st mo. 169} . 

Deaii Friend, whom 1 love in truth, and for the Truth's 
sake ; 

These few lines I have written unto thee, to 
let thee and Friends know of my arrival, which was on the 
14th instant. We had a long passage. Our ship had liken 
to have been wrecked on the Capes off Virginia, with many 
apparent dangers, but escaped all ; for which my heart is 
thankful to God. We are kindly received by Friends, and 
many other people, though we have not had many meetings 
yet. I see here is great need of faithful Friends to visit 
these parts ; and I hope the Lord will stir up the hearts of 
many to this service. Soon after I set my eyes on this 
country, my heart was filled with the goodness of God, so 
that I was not able to contain myself; and it much dwells 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 53 

in my heart, which makes me think the Lord's mercy is 
much to these countries ; also it is a great confirmation 
to me, that the Lord will assist me with his good presence, 
which hath been my chief est pleasure for many years. I 
intend to spare neither my body nor time, so that I may 
discharge myself of what is fallen to my lot ; and I often 
think in my heart, that all is too little that I can do for 
the worthy name of God, such have his mercies been to 
me, whereby to make me willing, both with body, soul and 
substance, to be given up to serve him. Oh ! the good- 
ness of Truth fills my heart ! I desire that all that know 
it may be persuaded to love it. There is no glory nor 
beauty like unto it; and I desire that such as God in 
his loving kindness and mercy hath bestowed gifts of his 
Holy Spirit upon, may be stirred up rightly to improve 
them, to the advancement of the honour of their Lord 
and Master ; and that they may labour always to be found 
in those things that make for peace and love : so will 
their unity increase with the Father and the Son and one 
with another. I desire thee to remember my true love to 
Friends, met together at the Quarterly Meeting, with whom 
my soul hath had unity for twenty years or more; and 
my heart and mind hath laboured in secret for Truth's 
prosperity amongst them; and when anything hath ap- 
peared which hath brought trouble on that meeting, it 
hath greatly afflicted my spirit; and when Truth hath 
prevailed, my soul hath greatly rejoiced ; and the last time 
I was there, my heart was filled with thanksgiving to God, 
because I saw a holy zeal stir in many Friends' hearts for 
good order; and that it might increase from one end of 
the country to the other. I pray God increase it more 
amongst you. And this I have to say to Friends, in the 
word of Truth, That if a true care and diligence be observed, 
the Lord will bless your endeavours and prosper his work 



54 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OE 

in your hands ; for out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, 
hath God shined, not only to convince people of the evil of 
their ways, by his Truth, but to establish them in the sound 
and holy order of the Gospel. Oh, the comeliness of the 
government which the Lord is putting upon the true church, 
and the beauty of that dwelling he is about to settle her in, 
affect my heart ! but libertines cannot behold these things, 
therefore are they sorely displeased at such as labour to see 
this work completed. The Lord is on his way ; therefore it 
is my desire that all may be strong for God and his Truth. 
Eemember my dear love to Eriends of the morning-meeting. 
I desire thee to send a copy of this to my wife. So with 
true love unto thee, thy wife, children and friends, wishing 
all your welfare, 

I rest thy Friend in the Truth, 

Wm. Ellis." 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 55 



CHAPTER V. 

Letters from America to Settle Monthly Meeting. — Alice Ellis to her 
husband. — William Ellis to his wife. Aaron Atkinson and William 
Ellis separate. Letter from Aaron Atkinson. Anecdote from 
Thomas Story's Journal. William Ellis to Thomas Johnson. 

The care of William Ellis for his Eriends in England was 
soon made manifest after his arrival in America, as will be 
seen by the following epistles to his own monthly -meeting, 
aud several of the following letters. No journal of his 
travels in America appears to have been kept, but his course 
may be traced by his correspondence in this and subsequent 
chapters. 

Settle Monthly Meeting, at the period at which the fol- 
lowing epistles were addressed to it, was composed of the 
Preparative M eetings of Settle, Bentham, Newton-in-Bolland, 
Eilston (including Airton), Scarhouse, Salterforth, and 
Selside. 



" To the Monthly Meeting, at Settle, in Yorkshire. 

Maryland, the 25th of the 1st mo. 1698. 

Deae, Emends, 

This comes with my true love to you all, to 
let you know, that through the great mercy of God, I have 
escaped many apparent clangers, both by sea and land. We 
arrived safe in Maryland on the 14th instant, and I feel 



56 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

the Lord's power near to assist me through the great work 
that is before me, for his Name's sake ; and by it my heart 
is warmed, my faith strengthened, and my hope established. 
Now my dear friends and faithful brethren, though I am 
separated from you, yet you are often in my mind, because 
I know that the Lord is with you ; and many times have I 
known and felt in your meetings, the love of God to fill my 
heart amongst you ; and it hath been my great joy, to feel 
the Lord's weighty counsel amongst you, to direct you in 
your affairs, for his Truth and Name. Oh ! the remembrance 
of it fills my heart now, as it did when I was with you; and 
my heart is thankful to God, that he hath counted me worthy 
to labour with you in those things which have wrought for 
the honour of his Name, and the spreading of the fame of 
his Truth abroad. It has been the kindness of God, and his 
love in our hearts, that has engaged us to tins service; and 
Friends, you know that since the day that the gracious God 
hath concerned me, how that I have served him, not only 
in word and doctrine according to my small gift ; but my 
strength, understanding, and all that little substance that 
God hath given, me in this world, have been given up to his 
service. Let God have the glory of all we can do, and let 
the beauty and comeliness that is in the Truth shine through 
every believer therein. And further, it is my advice to you 
in the love of God, that as he hath opened many good and 
wholesome orders and methods amongst us, for the discipline 
in the church of Christ, so let your hearts grow strong for 
God, and full of mighty and holy zeal to put them in 
practice ; and labour with all diligence, that ye may be 
found in the practice thereof, in every particular meeting ; 
so that all coldness of zeal and indifferency of spirit in 
religion, and looseness of conversation may be watched 
against and put a stop unto, as much as in you lies, and 
that every green and tender thing, whether in poor or rich, 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 57 

be cherished ; and if any have done amiss, let the time past 
suffice, that they may now seek the Lord by true repentance, 
and hearty acknowledgement of their offence ; that if the 
day of their visitation be not past, they may find mercy with 
the Lord. Oh, let your waiting be upon the Lord in your 
monthly-meetings, and at all other times, for wisdom and 
counsel to manage the Lord's business ; and for a spirit of 
discernment, that you may distinguish between true re- 
pentance and feigned humility; for the hypocrite cannot 
approach the Lord so as to find favour with him. And the 
great desire of my heart is, that all Friends be advised to 
keep to that Power that will keep their souls alive, fresh and 
open to the Lord, in their retired meetings for the worship 
of God ; so that all idleness and sleepiness may be kept from 
amongst Friends ; that those Friends who may be concerned 
for God in public be not burdened and grieved with such 
things ; but that their joy may be full in the Lord, in the 
increase of their gift, in the root of life ; and then, as any- 
thing opens upon them, doubtless it will be to the affecting 
of the hearts of all that hear them. Oh ! the weight that my 
soul hath gone under, that I might see the work of Truth 
accomplished amongst you ; and I desire you to make inquiry 
how the weekly-meetings are kept up, and see that Friends 
grow in it duly. The strength that I have often gained in 
those retired meetings, I do find stands in me steadily in 
this my travel. Oh ! my heart is warmed within me, when 
I remember those good seasons, and how the Lord filled the 
hearts of the faithful, that they could not forbear to meet 
together, that they might purely enjoy the presence of God ; 
and I have made some observations, that those who have 
been indifferent in that work, I have not seen grow to the 
stature of a strong man in Christ Jesus, who is Lord of our 
assemblies. And my desire is, that that good work of 
taking care of poor Friends' children may be minded 



58 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

amongst you ; and that Friends be minded to give freely 
towards the relief of the poor, as God hath blessed them ; 
for as the Scripture saith, "God loveth a cheerful giver;" 
and it hath been a saddening to my heart when I have 
heard complaining of want in the time of sacrificing at 
the altar. In the time of the old Law, the Lord required 
this, That none should appear before him empty, and I know 
the Lord requires it now. And dear friends, labour in the 
life of Truth, which God in his love hath opened in your 
hearts, to keep in the bond of peace, and that all contention, 
and all that would contend for false liberty may be kept out 
of your assemblies, so as to have no place amongst you ; so 
will you grow fruitful as a garden enclosed ; and the works 
of your hands will send forth a pleasant smell. God, through 
his tender mercy hath shewed me these things in the opening 
of life in my heart. And so the Lord prosper his work in 
your hand, is the desire of my heart ; so that if it please him 
to bring me back, I may behold the glory of the Lord 
amongst you, and be partaker of his joy and consolation 
among you, is the fervent prayer of your real friend, 

¥m. Ellis. 

When you are met together, and you feel the Lord's 
power upon you, present your requests to God for my pre- 
servation every way ; and let this be read in your men's and 
women's meetings in the same love that it is written in. 

W. E." 

The epistle, from which the following extract is taken, 
appears to have been, in some degree, a duplicate of the 
former one, ; but some of the additional matter is of too 
much value to be omitted in tins collection. 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 59 

Extract from an Epistle to Friends, at their Monthly 
Meeting at Settle. 

" Maryland, the 30th of the 1st mo. 1698. 
Dear Friends ; 

As I have been exercised amongst you, it still 
is my fervent desire that you may be faithful to what God 
hath committed to your charge, and be careful to meet dili- 
gently together on the week-days, and let not things of this 
world overcome you, and cause you to make excuse for negli- 
gence in your duty ; but wait that your minds may be kept 
under a concern for Truth, and that will keep out the spirit of 
the world which will bring thick darkness over your minds 
and sleepiness over the body ; but wait in, and stand fast in 
the name of the Lord; so that that life that outlives all that 
is contrary to God may fill your hearts, and that by it your 
strength may be renewed to serve the Lord and one another ; 
and I know that those who are found wanting in their duty 
to God, will not grow up to God's honour, nor be helpful to 
the building up of the church, but will be found com- 
plaining like people that dwell in a barren land. Dear 
friends, since the day of my convincement, I have seen and 
felt the benefit of meeting the Lord's people; and I am 
thankful that I am kept sensible, even unto tins day, of the 
benefit of inward retirement before the Lord : and Friends, 
keep up your Preparative Meetings, and wait in God's wis- 
dom that your hearts may be filled with his counsel to act 
and speak forth those things that are most for the honour of 
his Name and good of the whole assembly. And minister 
diligently to the necessities of the poor, and fatherless, and 
widows ; and labour in the power of God, and in that, rule 
over all disorderly and unruly spirits, that the government 
of Christ may be known to be upon his shoulders ; for "'tis 
said, "Of the increase of his government and peace, there 



60 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

shall be no end;" and labour to keep out all that which 
would disturb your unity, which stands not in shaking of 
hands, nor inquiring of the welfare one of another, but in 
the spirit of our Lord Jesus, our Foundation and chief Cor- 
ner Stone. Beware of feigned humility, but be tender of all 
those who are coming up to serve Truth; and let those 
Friends who are anciently convinced be good examples in 
their places, that those who are young and are seeking the 
Lord and the knowledge of his way, may not be hurt by 
their examples ; and let none sing without the spirit and un- 
derstanding also ; but labour that the life of Truth may fill 
your hearts ; that is it which makes all capable to serve the 
Lord with acceptance. Pray take notice and call to mind 
respecting some that have professed Truth in times past 
amongst us, but walked after the devices of their own hearts ; 
what misery and distress came upon them, even to the end ! 
The remembrance thereof hath often filled my heart with 
sorrow ; yet I bless the Lord with my whole heart, because 
he hath given me to see that he is about to raise up such as 
will answer him with a willing mind ; and it is my great joy 
to see Truth prosper. Though I be far separated from 
those things which have been and are dear to me, yet the 
presence of God makes me to say, all is too little that I can 
do for his Name. This day we have had a great meeting, 
where abundance of people came, and three justices of the 
peace, where it was opened to them from the Lord, that he 
had sent the Physician of value, who has the Balm of Gilead 
to heal the wound of the daughter of Zion. The Lord is 
about to spread the fame of Truth in these countries. With 
dear love to you all, 

I remain your dear friend and brother, 

Wm. Ellis." 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 61 

The excellent spirit of irue helpers in Christ, exhibited in 
the two following letters, as well as in many others in this 
series, deserves the serious attention of the reader. The ten- 
der affection of William and Alice Ellis, and their devoted 
dedication to the Lord, are touchingly set forth, and depict 
a fervency of spirit, such as might lead to the expectation, 
that the divine blessing would attend their labours, and that 
the work of the Lord would prosper in their hands. 

" Airton, the 15th of the 2nd mo. 1698. 

Deae, and Loving Husband ; 

After the salutation of endeared love to thee, 
I thought fit to signify my mind a little to thee. Dear love, 
thou art often fresh in my remembrance to my great comfort 
and satisfaction. I feel the renewings of the love of God to 
be shed abroad in my heart in a larger manner than ever, 
that the Lord who drew thy mind away from all that was 
near and dear, may make thy journey a prosperous journey, 
and make it effectual, for the end for which he called thee; 
not questioning at all but the Lord who has stood by us in 
great trials and exercises, will carry us on and through, to 
the glory and honour of his great Name, and to our own 
satisfaction and comfort, as we serve him truly in the sin- 
cerity of our hearts. So my dear love, though we be far 
distant in body, yet as we keep in the universal love of God, 
we are present in spirit, and as near as ever. I cannot word 
the nearness I feel in the remembrance of thee, which many 
times causes my soul to rejoice ; but at times it hath pressed 
upon my mind with weight, that thou do not travel over 
fast forward, but that thou mayst take time, that thereby 
thou mayst discharge thyself more clearly in the sight of 
God ; and this will, I believe, tend to thy own satisfaction 
and future happiness both here and hereafter. If thy 



6& LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OP 

companion would seem to draw thee or hasten thee to get 
your service over, I earnestly desire thee to be very careful 
to mind the drawing of the Father's love, which will open 
to the view of thy mind, and give thee a clear discovery, 
where thy service lies. I have been a little afraid for some 
time, lest thou shouldst be drawn homeward over soon, and 
thou should leave some places or Islands unvisited, which 
would cause uneasiness, and deprive us both of the benefit 
we might enjoy hereafter. These things have been much in 
my mind both by day and also in the night season ; when in 
sleep, methought I had been talking with thee, and saying, 
Take thy time, and perform thy service fully ; and withal, 
I earnestly, praying unto the Lord to enable thee to perform 
the same. Take no care for me, as for outward things ; for 
I believe things will be well, -and I intend to endeavour to 
answer thy mind in what thou wrote to me from London. 
Now I feel my mind eased; only when the goodness of 
Truth is in thy heart, then remember thou me. 

So I rest and remain, thy true and loving wife, 

Alice Ellis." 



' e Written at Chuckatuck, in Virginia, 
the 19th of the 2nd mo. 1698. 

Dear "Wipe ; 

This with true love, comes to let thee know 
how and where I am. I wrote to thee aud several Friends 
before, but lest the letters should miscarry, I have added 
these few lines, to let thee know that we have gone through 
part of Yirginia. We find many poor dejected people that 
profess Truth, who for want of true care in themselves, and 
of visiting by Friends in love and zeal, are grown too cold. 
Thou hast known the manner of my exercise where such 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 63 

things have been, so that I need say less on that account. 
However, we labour sore to bring to people's remembrance, 
the beauty and comeliness that is in the Truth, and people's 
hearts begin a little to warm ; but I cannot see but that we 
must see Eriends twice over in some places. Here is a 
Yearly Meeting intended to be kept in the third month, 
where we hope to be ; and we intend to speak to the Elders 
amongst Eriends, to be more zealous for the Truth, and for 
the good order of it ; and then we intend for Maryland, and 
if we live, towards Pennsylvania. I suppose we may be in 
these countries till the 11th or 12th month; so if Robert 
Haydock send any ship for Pennsylvania, send me a few 
lines : and dear wife, I am much concerned for thee every 
way, and earnestly desire thy foot may not slip ; for now is 
our time to labour to get the heavenly crown ; and seeing we 
have so long and hardly travailed to obtain it, that we may 
not fail now when our time cannot be expected to be long ; 
for the time comes that those who win the race must have 
the gold. I cannot express my care for thee, because I 
know thou wilt meet with many enemies for Truth's sake, 
1 being separated from thee. Whilst I was with thee, I 
know false hearted people were made to bend, yet it is my 
comfort that thou hast some true hearted Eriends to stand by 
thee. Be sure if thou open thy heart to any, let it be to 
such as thou canst really trust. My dear love to Adam 
Squire, bid him be sure he marry such a one as loves the 
Truth. My love to my family in general, and to Thomas 
Atkinson, if he be alive ; he hath spoken of true love and 
pure innocency ; T hope he will have a measure of them both 
to accompany him till the last. Tell Simeon Wilkinson to 
walk in the Truth without wavering, and that he fall to work 
upon that part that works in his nature to make him of a 
testy or angry mind, so that God's blessing may come upon 
him in his old age. Likewise bid Joseph labour to overcome 



64 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

the inclination of his mind, and speak to every one according 
to their inclinations. My love to brother Daniel and Ins 
wife, I heartily desire he may get through all his outward 
trouble, and then to knock the world on the head, and make 
it his business to serve the Truth to the utmost of what it 
requires of him. My love to Lawrence King, and tell him 
not to tie himself to the world, but upon sound terms, that 
he may have the more time to serve the Truth. A poor 
people here sit for many weeks in meetings, and hear few 
or no words spoken. Yesterday I was told that several poor 
women came ten miles on foot to meeting, and some brought 
their little children in their arms. Discourage nobody that 
is really inclined to come to these parts to see Friends, for 
here is a great work to be done before the fame of Truth be 
set over these countries. My love to Elizabeth Moore, and 
tell her that I am much concerned for her son John, that he 
may get such a wife as will really love and serve Truth, that 
as her zeal and love hath increased, so her comfort may 
increase in her old age. I live in hope to return back and 
enjoy thy company, which is more to me than all things that 
mine outward eye hath seen ; and till then, 

I remain thy loving and affectionate husband, 

Wm. Ellis." 

Extract of a letter to Alice Ellis from her husband. 

"Page in Creek, in Yirginia, 19th 3rd mo. 1698. 

We have been once through Yirginia, and 
through Carolina, where we have found many tender- 
hearted people, and had much hard service, things being 
much out of order amongst Eriends, and wrong-minded 
people bearing sway ; but the Lord hath wonderfully ap- 
peared and assisted us to set Truth over all opposition, 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 65 

so that I hope we shall go clear out of this country. The 
last First-day we were at a Yearly Meeting, and two days 
after, being the 19th instant, eleven Friends took a boat to 
go to a Friend's house ; and the wind rose, and we were in 
great danger of being cast away, water driving into the boat, 
so that we were Like to sink, and I with two or three Friends 
more were thrown out of the boat ; but the Lord had mercy on 
us for his name's sake ; so that by hard toil we got to a vessel ; 
but to conclude the matter, we were all preserved Here is 
much travel here by water, but I will take what care I can, 
and the rest must be committed to God. Thus with true 
love to thee, 

I remain thy true and loving husband, 

Wm. Ellis." 



" West River, in Maryland, the 16th of the 
4th mo. 1698. 

Dear and loving Wife, 

After the remembrance of my true love to 
thee, by this know that I have written often to thee, but 
lest letters should miscarry, I think fit to write as often as I 
have opportunities to send. Here hath been a Yearly Meeting 
that hath holden five days, whereto many of the great men of 
the country came, and several priests and the Governor, and 
the Lord was pleased to assist me to my great comfort and 
Friends' gladness, though I had gone through more exercises 
two or three weeks before, than I can express ; it brought 
both body and mind low, but 1 have been made able to bear 
it. I left Aaron in Virginia, but hope he will be here in a 
little time ; then we shall be for Pennsylvania if health be 
granted, but here is a great mortality through most parts of 
these countries. There are three public-friends coming out of 

7 



66 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

these countries for England. Robert Heaton's son will tell 
thee of me. And dear wife, know that thou art often in my 
mind, and my soul is much concerned, that though we be 
far separated, we may be preserved every way to God's 
honour and our own comfort. I earnestly desire thee 
to take care of thyself, and not overwork thyself, but let thy 
desires be to God for my safety. I hope we shall have gone 
through these countries by the end of this year, and if we 
go not for Barbadoes, may endeavour for England. I have 
been under some deep exercises about going to that Island, 
and I hope the Lord will clear up my understanding, if it 
be my place to go thither. Remember my love to Friends 
in general, but especially to Eriends about town. I pray 
God you may all be found in those things that make for 
peace, and that love may abound among you as one man, — 
that you may keep dominion over all that which is of another 
nature, and fret not thyself too much at evil doers, nor say 
in thyself thou wilt let every one do as they will ; for evil 
doers to whom the Lord hath offered help, and who will not 
mend their ways, will grow worse and worse. Yet my desire 
is that God will raise up a people that will love the Truth. 
Pray keep up your weekly meetings, and advise Eriends to feel 
God's goodness to fill their hearts, so will you grow in your 
inward man. Tell Richard Wilkinson not to let his mind 
out to think of coming into these countries to live ; but if 
any young people be so warm, that they cannot be guided, 
let them take their course, when you have eased your minds : 
I doubt not but such will get cooled on their first coming here. 
My mind is much concerned for brother Daniel and his wife, 
that they may come up in their full duty and serve the Truth 
in the dominion of it. My dear love to sister Margaret, bid 
her mind her latter end : she hath known my mind many 
years, and hath seen the Lord's hand that hath been with 
me for my own good, and for the good of my kinsfolk, 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 67 

and friends ; and that no weapon that hath been lifted up 
against what I have stood for, hath prospered ; therefore bid 
her walk in the Truth, and seek the enjoyment of it, and 
keep oat of society with such as are unsound in works and 
judgment, so will the blessing of God be upon her. My 
love to all my kinsfolks, and servants, and neighbours, as 
thou seest meet and convenient. I desire thee keep in 
patience in thy troubles, and be careful that the Truth suffer 
not in any case by us ; then as it hath been and as it is, and 
as we have been and still are, so we shall be blessed. So 
my dear love, farewell ! 

I still remain thine, 

Wm. Ellis." 

Aaron Atkinson not feeling his mind easy to leave Virginia 
when "William Ellis believed it right for him to go forward, 
they separated ; and soon after parting, Aaron Atkinson was 
attacked by intermittent fever, as noticed in the following 
letter. 

"To William Ellis. 

The 5th of 5th mo. 1698. 
Dear Eriend ; 

Eight glad was I to hear from thee ; thy care 
and love to me are great I must needs say, and thou hast 
quitted thyself of me like a companion indeed. My dear 
friend, I have been very much out of order since thou left 
me ; for the most part, my fit returns every other day ; I 
can walk about on my easier day, but I sweat extremely. I 
forced myself one day to the meeting and was refreshed, but 
lay almost all the week following keeping my room, and 
came down stairs but once I think that week. I am so 

f2 



68 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OP 

weak in body that I do not know that I am able to ride two 
miles. My dear friend, though the Lord hath been pleased 
to afflict me, yet I believe it is not in his wrath ; I am not 
sensible of any occasion given by me that hath justly brought 
it upon me. So far as I can see, it is the Lord's will to 
stay me for a season, it may be for some service that I see 
not the end of, blessed be his Name, and his holy will be 
done for ever. I am now at John Woodson's, the doctors, 
and have been near three weeks ; there is good air, and he 
is very kind, but all physic is in vain for ought I am sensible 
of, as to putting away my distemper. My dear friend, as there 
is no likelihood of my coming seasonably to thee, I fully and 
freely give thee up to answer what the Lord requires of thee, 
and to go on as soon as thou findest freedom. Give me 
freely up into the hand of the Lord, for he is sufficient for 
me. It rests still with me to visit those meetings I told 
thee of. I shall be glad of my health, but I must wait the 
Lord's time. My dear love to Samuel Galloway, and his 
wife and children, and all other friends that ask of me. 
These are with true love to thee, and sincere cries to the 
Lord to be with thee to the end of thy days, 

Aaron Atkinson/' 



The following anecdote is from the journal of Thomas 
Story, who became much interested in the salvation of the 
negroes when on a religious visit from England to America, 
and travelling in North Carolina in 1699. Speaking of some 
coloured men who attended the meetings of Friends, he 
says ; " I had inquired of one of the black men, how long 
they had come to meetings ; and he said, they had always 
been kept in ignorance, and disregarded, as persons who 
were not to expect anything from the Lord, till Jonathan 
Taylor, who had been there a year before, in discoursing with 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 69 

them, had informed them, that the grace of God through 
Christ, was also given to them, and that they ought to 
believe in, and be led and taught by it ; and so might come 
to be good Friends, and be saved as well as others. Of this 
they were glad ; and on the next occasion, which was when 
William Ellis and Aaron Atkinson were there, they went to 
meetings, and several of them were convinced." — See the 
Life of Thomas Story, 8vo. Ed. 1786, p. 115. 

Thomas Johnson, to whom the following letter was ad- 
dressed, died at Eichmond, in Yorkshire, in 1710, aged 
about 73 years. 

"Maryland, the 22nd of the 5th mo. 1698. 

Dear Eriend, Thomas Johnson; 

After my dear love to thee, by this know that thou 
hast come into my remembrance of late time, as also have 
faithful Eriends about where thou livest, and therein hath my 
heart been comforted. My heart hath been often gladdened 
since I saw thee, that I lived to see an end put to the great 
trouble that hath been so great a hurt and sorrow to Eriends 
about you, for so many years, and that love was like to come 
up amongst you ; and in order to that, my hearty desire is, 
that whatever hath been spoken or done by any that 
was not according to the Truth, let all be buried in the 
land of forgetfulness, and the very root of all discord be 
taken out of all hearts by the Spirit of Truth. And if thou, 
or any honest Eriends know any one that is not come to 
this, labour truly with such in the love of God to overcome 
it ; and it is my hearty desire that the goodness of God may 
increase amongst you and through your whole monthly- 
meeting. And I wish that every one may call to mind the 
Lord's goodness that broke forth many years ago, and his 



t 

70 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

glory that shined through his faithful servants, to the affecting 
of your hearts, and to the uniting of your souls together, 
by which you were made strong for God, and strong to help 
your brethren ; and if it be found upon search, that there 
hath been, or is to this time, any loss of strength, or dimness 
come over you, or any want of the breaking forth of that 
former beauty and comeliness that I am sensible came over 
your meetings ; I desire that all who are sensible thereof 
may labour before the Lord to have those things restored 
and brought up again. And dear friend ! labour thus with 
thy whole heart, to stir up Friends to love and good works ; 
and persuade all Friends to walk in the Truth. Oh ! the 
sweetness of it hath comforted my heart above twenty years ; 
and it is as sweet as ever it was, and abounds to all that love 
it with their whole hearts : it is still so good to my soul, 
that though I be concerned to leave all, and to travel into 
these deserts for his Name, yet all is too little that I can do 
for Him. My soul is comforted at this time ; blessed be 
his holy Name for ever and ever. I desire thee to remem- 
ber my love to your Friends, and to Friends at Masham, 
and in Wensleydale. There will be a brave people there- 
abouts if they keep in the Truth. With true love to thee 
and all thine, 

I remain thy real friend, 

Wm. Ellis/' 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 71 



CHAPTEB VI. 

Letters from Alice Ellis to her husband, — Adam Squire to William Ellis, — 
William Ellis to Simeon Wilkinson, — to Alice Ellis, — Theodore 
Eccleston to William Ellis, — William Ellis to Adam Squire, 

The notice in the following letter of " Quarterly Meetings 
of Public Priends at Settle/'' seems to liave referred to the 
commencement of the meetings now known as the Meetings 
of Ministers and Elders, which are held once a quarter within 
most of the Monthly Meetings in the Society of Priends. 

"Anton, the 24th of the 5th mo. 1698. 
Dear and loving Husband, 

I have received thine dated the 23rd of the 
2nd month, which was gladness to my mind ; it was the first 
I had received since thou took shipping. I am well in 
health, and very cheerful in my mind, and we have been very 
quiet in our family since thou left us. Dear love, thou hast 
often been in my remembrance to my great comfort ; and 
such has been the Father's love, that I can truly say, I have 
had no want of thee, excepting in our own meeting ; and I 
daily feel the sheddings abroad of this love in my heart; 
I feel my strength is often renewed, and many times earnestly 
pray in the secret of my heart to the Lord, that he may 
enable thee to perform thy service fully. I desire thee to 
take no care for me for outward things, for I can truly say, 
there has nothing seemed hard to me since thou left me. I 



7$ LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF' 

believe all things will be well every way, if we be but faithful 
in heart and mind in what the Lord makes known to us. I 
hope thou wilt take well my writing after this manner in 
both letters ; and though I signified the fear that was in my 
mind, lest thou shouldst be drawn homewards over soon, 
thou knowest it is not for want of love to thee ; for I can 
truly say, thy company has been always pleasant to me; but 
finding it was my duty, I durst not but signify my mind 
after this manner ; for I know, the Lord who brought us 
together by a secret hand, that we might be a comfort, and as 
meet helps one for another, and serve him in the sincerity of 
our hearts, and to the utmost of our strength, will, if we do 
so, and continue faithful to the end, yet more and more bless 
us, and enrich us with the riches of his love ; so that thereby 
we shall be more freely given up in heart and mind to serve 
hfm faithfully. And as we abide here, the Lord will still 
more and more be glorified by us, and we shall desire nothing 
more than that which will be a means of spreading the 
Truth and propagating his great Name upon earth : then 
I know that our love will increase to the Lord yet more and 
more, and unfeigned love and hearty desires will spring in 
our hearts to the Lord one for another, that we still may be 
preserved by that secret hand which brought us together at 
first ; so in the secret of my heart do I earnestly pray unto 
the Lord for the continuation of the same. We have had 
two Quarterly Meetings of Public Friends, at Settle, since 
thou left us, which were very precious meetings, and the set 
time they are kept, is the week before the Quarterly Meeting 
at York; and so to continue. I was at the Quarterly 
Meeting at York, and I can truly say, it was the most com- 
fortable meeting that ever I was at there. Having a little 
eased my mind, I shall conclude, and so remain 

Thy true and loving wife, 

Alice Ellis." 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 73 

Adam Squire, the writer of the following letter, was a 
Friend of Airton, whose name first occurs on the minutes of 
Settle Monthly Meeting, in 1696. The Gill estate, near 
Airton, which is now in the possession of Friends of York- 
shire, belonged to some of the same family of Squire, who 
lived at Needham Market at the time it was transferred to 
Friends in 1829. 

« Airton, the 24th of the 5th mo. 1698. 
True and well-wishing Friend, ¥m. Ellis ; 

Wheresoever these may find thee, the glory of 
the Lord God of Israel overshadow thee, and the blessings 
of Ins Son Christ Jesus abound in and upon thee ! Heartily 
do I desire that he may distil his small rain more and more, 
and shower down Ins love in and through thee, so that he 
may make thee a fruitful bough, spreading over all the walls 
of opposition ; and the Lord grant thy prosperity in the 
Truth every way, that when the wicked archers are suffered 
to shoot their darts sore On every side, thy bow may abide 
in its full strength ; and I do not at all question, but the 
Lord will arm thee with that spiritual armour, which I know 
is able to resist all the fiery darts of the devil. For tins 
cause I greatly bless God on thy behalf, that the Lord hath 
chosen thee as one of his faithful labourers, to place his holy 
Name upon. my dear friend ! I tenderly desire thee in 
bowels of endeared love, which I feel in the love of God to 
roll towards thee, to be sure thou leave nothing short, of 
that which the Lord has discovered to thee and given 
thee a knowledge of. I believe thy reward will be great ; 
for this is thy day that the Lord hath handed forth to 
thee. The Lord goes before thee and is become thy 
captain, and if thou follow him in sincerity of heart and 
mind, and fight his battle valiantly, then the Lord will 
make thee more than a conqueror, a pillar in his house, 



74 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

which shall no more go forth. Thus I have given thee a 
small hint of my respects, withal heartily desiring of the 
Lord that he may say, Amen, to my secret desires for thee. 
Now I know I need not say much of my gladness to hear 
from thee, for I believe thou knowest it, yet I desire thee, 
as opportunity offers, to let me hear from thee; and as 
touching what thou mentionedst in thine to me, I do intend, 
if I live, to answer thy mind in all respects ; and as for thy 
poor wife, who I know loves the Truth, she shall want no 
assistance that I can make her. And further, my friend, I 
must acknowledge the remembrance of thee comforts my 
heart and soul ; and though we be far separated outwardly, 
yet in this pure love of God are we nearer than ever ; but at 
times I want thee exceeding sore, to help to press forward 
those that would fain stay behind ; and to drive onwards the 
backsliders which will neither go themselves nor are willing 
to let others go. This thing is a great trouble to me, to see 
such things, amongst those called professors ; but I believe 
the day is coming that every one must be turned to their 
own, and must reap the fruits thereof ; and happy will all 
those be who have laid up heavenly treasure, whose fruits 
will be safe for evermore. I heartily desire thee, that thou 
wilt pray unto the Lord of the harvest that he may raise up 
more faithful labourers, who will stand substantial in the 
day of trial, and in the time of great exercise. And my 
friend, whom I dearly love in the everlasting Truth, I beg 
it of thee to pray unto the Lord in the secret of thy heart, 
that I may be preserved out of the snares of death, which 
lead to the chambers of hell. I see the danger they are in, 
whom Satan hath blinded. O that thou would call to mind, 
and remember when thou wast beset, as it were, with 
enemies, within and without ! and as thou patiently waitedst 
upon the Lord, how he in his due time, wrought thy de- 
liverance every way ; so that now thou art become free to 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 75 

the commonwealth of Israel ; and then thou mayst remember 
me before the great Lord, that I may be preserved out of the 
reach of the enemy in every respect. My friend, I cannot 
word my desires in this respect, but believe thou hast a 
feeling sense of my condition, and hast experienced the same, 
so that I know no mortal that I can make my complaint to 
in comparison of thee ; and I believe that to thy private 
supplications, the Lord will say, Amen. I cannot but 
earnestly desire thee to remember those who have thy 
exercises to go through ; and to pray the Lord that he may 
bring them through Jordan, which I earnestly desire the 
Lord may grant so to be; and in expectation of the same, 
I rest thy loving friend and brother in the unchangeable 
Truth, 

Adam Squire." 

Simeon Wilkinson, to whom the following letter is ad- 
dressed, appears to have been an indentured servant to 
William Ellis. The care of a Christian master is well set 
forth in the counsel contained in this letter. 

"Maryland, the 25th of 5th mo. 1698. 
Simeon Wilkinson, 

Loving friend, after true love to thee, know 
that the time of thy freedom being near, I have been under 
a concern of my mind for thy welfare ; and seeing, it may 
fall so, that thou set up for thyself; therefore I advise thee, 
that thou settle thy mind quietly, to feel the Truth to direct 
thee in thy undertakings ; and let not love of increase of 
outward things or profit, take up thy affections too much ; 
but be sure to keep openness to go to week-day meetings ; and 
in private, desire to feel God's goodness to nil thy heart, 
that thy strength of mind may be renewed, rightly to rule 
what God may bless thee with, and likewise to overcome 



76 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

what is incident to thee in nature, and that thou love and 
honour thy parents, which I know will please God ; and that 
thou wilt help thy sisters in what is needful in any manner. 
And wait to have thy eye opened, to discern truly between 
those that serve God and those that serve him not ; and 
labour to improve thy gifts, spiritual and natural, to the most 
advantage, and God's honour : and if these things be found 
in thee, the Lord will make way for thy prosperity every way. 
Thou hast seen my care of thee, and that the Truth might 
grow in thee and amongst you all ; that by it you might be 
made men for God when I am gone. Thus with true love 
to thee and you all, 

I rest thy true friend, 

Wm. Ellis." 

While William Ellis pointed out the benefit of attention 
to the teaching of the Holy Spirit, and the advantage of 
waiting on the Lord for this teaching, he saw the necessity 
of watching against the snares of Satan, when transformed 
as into an angel of light, beguiling those who being some- 
what awakened, but not truly humbled and brought to a 
spiritual discernment of their duty, gave way in an excited 
state of mind to imaginations, and in this professed to have 
visions, and to be moved by the Divine Spirit. The enemy of 
all good has often sought by such means to bring into discredit 
a belief ii\that teaching of the Spirit which is abundantly 
promised in the Scriptures, to the disciples of Christ; and the 
early Eriends whilst directing to the true teaching of the Spirit, 
guarded this point by declaring, that whatsoever was pro- 
fessed to be the teaching of the Spirit, and was contrary to 
Holy Scripture, must be reckoned a delusion of the devil. 
Caution is extended in the following letter, in regard to 
persons under such delusions. 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 77 

"East Shore, Maryland, 26th of 5th mo. ] 698. 

Dear and loving Wife, 

After true love to thee, these may let thee 
know, that through the tender mercy of God (who hath 
wonderfully extended mercy unto us many years, not because 
of our desert, but of his own good will), I am as well in 
body and easy in my mind as I have been a long time ; and 
my heart pants to be filled with the Lord's goodness, that 
by it, I may do that which is fallen for my lot in this wil- 
derness country ; and my desire hath prevalence with him, 
which is secret gladness to my heart. In about ten days or 
two week's time, I intend to be in Pennsylvania, and to be 
thereabouts till towards the last of the Seventh Month, and 
then to go towards New England, for it is dangerous travelling 
in the winter there ; and if I live, to come back to Pennsyl- 
vania. I have seen Friends mostly two or three times over 
thus far ; and I intend to spend my time to the most profit 
I can ; and if I go not for Barbadoes, shall make my way 
for home ; but cannot say much to that till I see my way 
clearer. My dear, I often think of thee, and it is no small 
comfort to me that I have thee to think of, and the more 
because I have ever found thee true to me in my greatest 
trials ; and though I be far from thee, yet my love increases 
to thee, and if it please God to bring us together again, I be- 
lieve it will be to the increase of our comfort and strength, 
and I hope for the further advancement of the work of Truth, 
which thou knowest hath been my hearty desire this many 
years. And my desire is, that thou live nearer the Truth 
than ever, and let the life of it fill thy heart, that thereby 
thou mayst be enabled to discharge thyself of what is com- 
mitted to thy charge, and labour to promote that which 
makes for peace ; but if any mutinies should arise to disturb 
and disquiet Priends, labour to keep to the sense of God, 



78 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

and to what clearly opens to thee ; in that clear thyself, but let 
it not take too deep hold of thee, nor fret thyself at evil 
doers, for they will wax worse and worse till they be fully 
made manifest. And let patience possess thy mind, and wait 
to grow weighty in thy retirements, that thereby thou mayst 
grow in all virtues, and in the knowledge of those things that 
appertain to the exalting of the worthy name of the Lord 
Jesus Christ. I know that true-hearted Friends will often 
inquire of me : remember my dear love to them as one man. 
My spirit is often with you in your week-day meetings ; and 
to think of God's goodness in times past is gladness to 
my heart. Remember my love in general to all Friends as 
thou seest fit, and be careful to keep out all who pretend to 
motions and visions, such as are but of their own brain ; 
and advise to keep to the sound Truth in all things, and put 
Friends in mind to visit Scarhouse Meeting. So with true 
love to thee, 

I remain thy real and loving husband, 

¥m. Ellis." 

George Keith who, as well as some others, is noticed in 
the following letter and in some subsequent ones, was once 
a minister among Friends ; but he fell from his standing, 
and afterwards joined the Episcopalians, among whom he 
became a priest, but practised persecution and falsehood so 
as to render his profession of religion contemptible. — See 
Life of John Richardson, Ed. 1843. p. 103—129. 

Nicholas Wain was a Friend who emigrated from Eng- 
land at an early period. A Friend of the same name, pos- 
sibly a descendant of the former, visited England from 
America as a minister in 1783, and again in 1795. 

The following notice of Griffith Owen, who is several 
times mentioned in this volume, is from " Proud's History 
of Pennsylvania," Vol. ii. p. 99. " In the latter part of the 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLiS. 79 

year 1717, died Dr. Griffith Owen, of Philadelphia. He 
came to Pennsylvania among the early settlers ; and was 
said to be of great and eminent service among them in 
divers capacities. As a preacher among the Quakers he 
was highly esteemed, being an active, exemplary, and very 
useful member of that religious Society. In the civil de- 
partment his merit and abilities raised him to several public 
stations, wherein he acted with judgment and integrity, 
being long one of the Governor's council, &c. But his 
practice as a physician, in which he was very knowing and. 
eminent, rendered him of still greater value and importance 
in the place where he lived. With these qualities he is said 
to have preserved the sincerity and meekness of a true 
Christian, and died much beloved by a large acquaintance of 
people of different ranks and societies/'' 

Philadelphia, the 8th of the 6th mo. 1698. 

Dear and loving Wife, 

By tins know that I got to this city two days 
since, where I was long looked for, and as kindly received 
by Priends. Yesterday I was at two meetings in this city, and 
the Lord's power came upon me, so that I was made stroug 
to sound forth the Truth, and set it over what might appear to 
oppose it. Many of George Keith's party were there, but I 
hear not a word of opposition yet. Since I wrote my last 
to thee out of Maryland, I have been much out of health, 
with much swelling and pain in my head, and a strong fever, 
so that I somewhat thought it would have brought me down, 
but have travelled still. To-morrow I hope to go out to a 
Quarterly Meeting about twenty miles off; and hope to re- 
turn and stay sometime with Griffith Owen, and take some- 
thing to help my body. Nicholas Wain and Iris wife met me 
here yesterday, and as far as I see he has kept his integrity. 



80 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OP 

I got thy letter, of which I was not a little glad, and I 
am glad thou art so easy in thyself : my care is great in 
secret for thy safety every way ; and though I be far from 
thee, yet I know my love increaseth to thee, and hope our 
love will be so to the end. Now since I left thee I have 
gone through many straits and much exercise of body, so 
that sometimes I could hardly stand in a meeting without a 
staff, and what I have yet to go through I know not ; but 
sometimes I am so that I question my return to thee again, 
and when that is in my mind, my care is more and more in- 
creased for thy safety and preservation ; but what shall I say, 
the Lord is able, and I believe willing to keep us, if we 
keep to him. And further, take care to thyself that no false 
spirit betray thee, nor lay hands on any man too suddenly, 
neither believe men for fair sayings only. I have seen some- 
times that all is not gold that appears so to be, and as thou 
keepest here, thou wilt find what spirit people are of, both at 
home and abroad : take diligent care to improve what I have 
said to thee in this thing. Here are many tender-hearted 
Friends who are preserved lowly in mind, and loving, and who 
keep much out of superfluity in apparel. Walter Fawcitt is 
with me here and is well ; Richard Wilkinson knows him, I 
suppose. If I live I intend to see the north parts, and hope to 
see those islands ; and at my return back, I hope I shall be of 
more ability of body and see more as to my return to England. 
Aaron is not come here yet, being in a fever and an ague 
every other day. I sent two Friends to see him, and staid till 
they came back : he sent me a letter, wherein he hath expressed 
my sincerity to him. If he come not up here after I go on, 
I somewhat question whether I shall have any more of his 
company in travel, but must labour to be content. I would 
have thee draw my family into as little a compass as thou 
canst, that if we live we may serve the Truth more than ever, 
if we be able. My dear love to Friends in general, as thou 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 81 

seest meet. I have thought some Friend might have been 
so kind as to have given me an account of the affairs of our 
meeting, and how things are in the monthly-meeting; it 
might well be thought, that as I have left all to see Truth 
prosper in these lands, it would therefore give me great 
gladness to hear of its prosperity at home. With true love 
to thee, 

I remain thy truly loving husband, 

Wm. Ellis." 

Wandsworth, near London, 12th of 6th mo. 1698. 

Dear and loving Friend ; 

I have received several of thy letters from the sea- 
coast, and from Maryland or Virginia, one of which came to 
hand when I was on a journey in Holland and elsewhere, 
with dear Paul Moon. I travelled through many countries 
and kingdoms and states, even in some of the dark corners 
of the earth, where Satan hath his seat and sits highly 
exalted, and where the beast's deadly wound is healed, and 
the whore rides as a queen that should never see sorrow ; 
but the day is dawned in which her merchants shall howl 
and lament as they see her downfal. The Lord hasten his 
work more and more for his own glory and the good of the 
souls of men ! We had very good service among the Friends, 
some of whom had not been visited for a great while. 
Meetings in some places are large, and generally tender; 
the worst was amongst a sort of Baptists, that queried of 
us, if we came to meet with them as Christians ! or if we 
came to make them Christians ! and much to do we had ; 
but at last we got a meeting with them, and felt some 
tenderness, though not so much as in some other places, 
for we had five meetings in Baptists' meeting places, in 
towns where Friends had no meetings; and in one near 



82 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

Hamburgh, there was great tenderness, with tears and 
love, so that an open door is now there, I hope, for the 
next faithful labourers the Lord may send amongst them. 
There was much need of visiting in some places, and I hope 
through the Lord, our labour was not in vain; for his 
presence was in a glorious manner with us, and his power 
tendered our hearts and their' s, and many of the other 
people's. Oh ! that his love might not be in vain to any, 
but that all, through the descending of the heavenly showers, 
might know the earth to be mollified, the good seed to take 
root and grow, to the praise of the Lord's own Name. 
Well, it is a good day, and the Lord's work is going on ! 
A great parliament man owns Truth openly, and a testimony 
is stirring among some honest Mends. John Tomkins is 
opened a little in the ministry, and William Townsend, a 
red-haired man of Southwark. The Lord bring more into 
the labour of his vineyard, that his great harvest work may 
go on. The great Master of our assemblies be with thee, 
and rivet the nail in a sure place, that it be loosened no 
more, but that it answer the end, to the good of men, to the 
glory of God, and to the comfort of thy exercised mind. 
So desiring thy preservation every way, with that of thy 
dear fellow-traveller, with mine and my wife's dear love to 
you both, 

I rest thy truly loving friend and brother, 

Theodore Eccleston." 

" To Adam Squire. 

Philadelphia, the 8th of 6th mo. 1698. 
Kind Friend, 

Thou mayst know that it is no small gladness 
to have a few lines from thee, and much more, because in 
them I find thy love to increase to me and to the Truth, 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 83 

and that unsoundness in the people becomes thy burden. The 
Lord raise thy love more to him, and thy zeal to his Truth, 
and to give thee strength to bear whatever may fall upon 
thee for his Name's sake ; and that thou mayst labour to do 
whatever is ordered for thee to do, with a willing mind ; 
God Almighty loves such. I am glad thou hast found 
the good effect of my advice ; I do think thou wilt find the 
good effect of it more and more. Thou knowest I have told 
thee things that were for thy good, as if thou hadst been my 
son. Had all that I have wished the welfare of, seen it as 
thou hast done, and taken it in the same way, several had 
been nearer the kingdom of God than I believe they are at 
this day. And still my counsel is to thee, to hold on in 
every good work, and let every body have the benefit of thy 
love to the Truth; and above all, watch to thyself, that 
nobody may have aught justly to charge thee with ; and as 
to marriage, wait in God's counsel, that thou mayst have thy 
right portion on that account. If thou pass that post 
without harm, it will make thy days comfortable. So with 
true love to thee, 

I rest thy real friend and eternal well-wisher, 

¥m. Ellis." 



g2 



LIFE AND COUEESPONDENCE OF 



CHAPTER VII. 



Notes of a Meeting of Ministering Friends, at Burlington, West Jersey. 
Letter to Alice Ellis. Epistle to Settle Monthly Meeting. Letters 
from Theodore Eccleston to Alice Ellis, — to Friends appointed as 
Overseers, — Alice Ellis to her husband. 



The following Notes respecting a Meeting held at Bur- 
lington, in West Jersey, and preserved among the memoranda 
of William Ellis, are of great interest, and may be profitably 
read by many in the present day. From what is stated in a 
subsequent letter, this meeting appears to have preceded the 
general Yearly Meeting for Pennsylvania and the adjacent 
parts of the country. 

Samuel Jennings, at whose house this meeting was held, 
was for some time Governor of the province of West Jersey : 
he emigrated from Coleshill in Buckinghamshire, in 1680 ; 
and is said to have been "a suppressor of vice, and an 
encourager of virtue ; sharp toward evil doers, but tender 
and loving to them that did well ; giving good counsel and 
wholesome advice to friends and neighbours ; he was an 
able minister of the Gospel, and laboured much therein, to 
the comfort and edification of many people." — See Proud's 
History of Pennsylvania, Yol. I. page 157. 

Thomas Janney, respecting whom a Testimony was read at 
this meeting, emigrated from Cheshire, in 1683, and settled 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 85 

near the Lower Ealls of the Delaware : he is said to have 
been a very serviceable person in his adopted country. 
After residing in America twelve years he revisited his native 
country on a religious account ; and after travelling through 
some parts of it, was taken ill. He died in Cheshire, 
amongst his relations, in 1696, aged 63 years, having been 
a minister forty-two years. — See Piety Promoted, Part II. 
and Proud' s History of Pennsylvania, Vol. I. page 217. 

Elizabeth Webb, noticed as being on a religious visit 
from England, in company with Mary Sogers, from the 
same country, was from Gloucestershire ; but she afterwards 
removed to America, and subsequently paid a religious visit 
to the land of her nativity. An account of her religious 
experience, given in a letter to Anthony William Boehm, 
was re-printed in 1848, in a volume of Autobiographical 
Notices, by Thomas Chalk. 

Mary Rogers died whilst visiting the West India Islands, 
on her passage from Nevis or Antigua to Jamaica. — See 
Letter, in this volume, from Samuel Carpenter, dated jgi 

Caleb Pusey, who produced at this meeting the essay of a 
controversial work, was an emigrant from London, who had 
settled in Pennsylvania with his family in 1682; he is 
spoken of in Proud' s History of Pennsylvania, Vol. I. 
page 337, as having preserved part of the materials from 
which that work was composed ; and as having been a man 
of good example, both in public and private life, and esteemed 
as a worthy Elder among his friends the Quakers. He was 
long one of the Provincial and Governor's Council; and 
was the author of several controversial works, one of which 
was in defence of William Penn. 



S6 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

Griffith Jones was, subsequently to the period of this 
meeting, a member of the Assembly of Pennsylvania. 



At a Meeting of Ministering Friends, held in Burlington, 
at the House of Samuel Jennings, the 17 th, 18th, 
19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, and 23rd days of the 7th 
month, 1698. 

The meeting was large and full, and divers travelling 
Friends that were strangers were present, as William Ellis, 
Aaron Atkinson, Mary Rogers, Elizabeth Webb, from 
England, and Elizabeth Gambel, from Barbadoes, with 
divers others from neighbouring provinces ; and the Lord's 
eternal power was with us, in which divers living, sound 
testimonies were borne ; and after Friends were a little eased, 
and our hearts united by the bond of Truth, we proceeded 
to inspect the necessary affairs of the meeting. 

A Testimony concerning our dear friend, Thomas Janney, 
given forth by Griffith Owen, was read and approved. 
The meeting adjourned until the morrow morning. 

18th day. — Friends being met together, and the Lord's 
power and presence eminently attending the meeting, divers 
testimonies and cautions were delivered in the power and 
life of Truth, which then overshadowed the meeting. 

First, — Though some that had a public testimony, might 
think within themselves, that the weight of the service of 
the Yearly Meeting might not be upon them, believing it 
would rather become the concern of those who had come 
from far to visit Friends here, yet that they should beware 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 87 

of an unconcernedness in that respect, but be weightily 
and carefully concerned to travail with them, spiritually, 
who might be in the exercise, that thereby they might 
be helped and strengthened through their spiritual travail 
with them. 

As also, that whereas, it was the way of the world to 
forget God, yet the Lord had gathered us, Ins people, to 
himself, that we could not forget him ; for though we came 
poor and empty together, yet the Lord in his wisdom and 
goodness and love, met us with a full hand, to comfort and 
strengthen us, that we might not faint in our minds, but be 
renewed in our strength ; and as Friends kept in that, the 
Lord would be praised and his Truth advanced. As also 
that Friends might keep to the power of Truth, and not to 
be over forward, but to mind it ; and when things were 
well, not to offer anything that might do hurt, or hinder the 
Lord in Ins spiritual work amongst his people ; and though 
this caution might seem then to be well received, as it had 
been formerly, yet it was seldom but some things in these 
great meetings were offered that did hurt, wound and grieve 
the honest-hearted : and several cautions were given, that it 
should not be so at this meeting, or for the future. 

As also, that Friends in the ministry should not run 
before their Guide, but be weightily concerned, and not 
strive to utter words out of the power of Truth j but as the 
power fell in them, though there might be an openness and 
a desire to speak in that power, yet rather to leave off, that 
the Lord might have his way ; for many things which might 
open at such times, if the power withdrew, might be better 
spoken to by another, who might afterward be put forth to 
speak to it, if the Lord saw good to order it. 

Adjourned until the morrow morning. 



88 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OT 

19th day. — Mends being again met this morning, some 
testimonies and cautions were given j viz. 

As to the difference between the wisdom of God and of 
man, and that though the wisdom of man was in the power 
of man, yet the wisdom of God was to be waited for, there- 
fore Friends were cautioned to wait for it in silence, and 
know a renewing of their strength therein, and not to stir 
without it carried them along ; but rather to rest when it 
withdrew or did not put them forth. 

As also, that as the Lord had formerly appointed Priests 
and Levites to serve him, so the Lord had now appointed 
and chosen vessels to bear public testimonies to his Name 
and Truth; with caution, that none should go before or 
stay behind the power of that which had called them, lest 
their offerings should be those of strange fire. 

And not only so, but to be good patterns and examples 
in their lives and conversation, and to see that it should be 
so with their wives and children and servants, that in all 
things the Lord through them might be praised. 

"William Ellis and Aaron Atkinson, for good order and 
example's sake were willing, and of their own accord, offered 
their certificates, that Friends in England had given them, of 
their unity with them, and of Eriends satisfaction in their 
coming to visit us here, which were read and well accepted 
and approved. 

A letter from Thomas Turner, and his certificate, read 
from Eriends in England, were well received; and it was 
agreed that a certificate be drawn on his account, to go from 
this meeting. 

The answer written by Caleb Pusey and John Wood, to 
Daniel Leeds's book, called " News of a Trumpet," agreed 
to be read next Eifth-day morning. 

Adjourned until the morrow, at eight in the morning. 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 89 

20th day. — Adjourned again until four in the afternoon. 

Ann Dilworth proposed her intentions of going for England, 
to visit Friends there, and she was advised of the weight of 
so great a concern ; bat if it rested still with her, the meeting 
left her to her liberty. 

Walter Eawcitt laid before this meeting his intention of 
going to England to visit Eriends, and he was left to his 
liberty. 

An Epistle from the Yearly Meeting at London, was 
read, and referred to be considered by the Yearly Meeting 
here. 

A paper of condemnation was brought into this meeting, 
signed by Griffith Jones, about his joining with George 
Keith in his separation ; but being informed it had not yet 
orderly passed the Monthly Meeting at Philadelphia, to which 
he belonged, he was therefore referred to give the said meeting 
satisfaction in the first place. 

Adjourned until eight in the morning. 

21st day. — Adjourned until evening. 

Adjourned until eight in the morning. 

22nd day. — Mary Eogers, in much brokenness, laid before 
Eriends, how that it had not been her own choice, to choose 
exercises, trials and difficulties, but it had been the Lord's 
pleasure to draw her beyond her expectation, as now he had 
laid it upon her to visit Barbadoes j and though she had 
tried several ways to have evaded it, if the Lord had seen 
good, yet every "way, except that, seemed as darkness to her ; 
but she was willing to lay it before the meeting, that she 
might have the concurrence of Eriends in so weighty an 
undertaking ; which caused much tenderness in the meeting, 
and divers testimonies were borne of the satisfaction of 



yU LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

Friends concerning her and her exercises ; and with several 
prayers for her preservation, in much love and brokenness, 
the meeting gave her up to the will of the Lord. 

Agreed that a certificate be drawn on her behalf, and that 
the Monthly Meeting at Philadelphia be desired to take care 
that it be done. 

It was proposed to this meeting, that Richard Hoskins 
had it on his mind to visit the meetings in Maryland and 
there-away, and in Virginia, and he was left to his liberty. 

Thomas Turner's certificate signed. 

23rd day. — Caleb Pusey's answer to Daniel Leeds's "News 
of a Trumpet sounding in the Wilderness, &c" was read and 
agreed that it be published, with amendments, and the ad- 
ditions noted to be made. 

The meeting ended. 



"Burlington, in West Jersey, 
27th of 7th mo. 1698. 
Dear and loving Wife ; 

After my true love to thee, know that I am 
indifferent well, and Aaron Atkinson is come hither, and 
now is at the Yearly Meeting for Pennsylvania and there- 
abouts, where many Friends from many parts are come up, 
and the meeting has begun well, and I hope it will end with 
thanksgiving and praises to God Almighty. After tins 
meeting we intend to go towards New England, and into the 
Isles thereabouts, and hope to come back into these parts ; 
and if we find ourselves easy, be sure we shall be glad to 
return to England again ; but I must not draw conclusions 
till I see my way clear. Mean time my mind is much exer- 
cised for thy welfare, and that nothing fall too hard on thee. 



WILLIAM AN'D ALICE ELLIS. 91 

I sometimes fear ill folks will take an opportunity to foam 
out their malice at thee, now that I am gone ; but I con- 
sider they will make themselves manifest to be in a great 
degree void of Christianity. Above all, seek for patience to 
bear what may fall to thy lot, and wisdom to behave thyself 
properly, both in word and deed; and in clue time the 
Lord will help thee through. I received thy letter with 
what thou sent by Eobert Hay dock's ship, and was glad 
of it. I have heard that Henry Coward is deceased, and 
George Myers also ; but it will not yet enter my mind that 
George is deceased. Thou fallest short of giving me account 
of the affairs of our meeting, and of the monthly-meeting, 
and whether you have got a meeting of public-friends or not. 
Methinks somebody might have sent me a few lines ; but if 
the cares of this world and the love to it, drive me out of 
Friend's remembrance, it is not so with me ; for all my 
exercises, whether at sea or land, have not driven them out 
of my mind, nor prevented my hearty prayers for then 
welfare. Pray labour to bring the young people to a sense 
of the Truth, and of the comeliness of it. My dear love to all 
true-hearted Friends, and especially to Richard TVilkinson 
and his wife and children ; to Thomas Stockdale, Thomas 
Atkinson, old Phineas Parkinson and Adam Squire; I took Iris 
letter with more than ordinary gladness. My love to brother 
Daniel and his wife, sister Margaret and brothers, and all 
my well-minded neighbours; and if anybody that is dis- 
affected to the government of the Truth inquire of me, let such 
know, that what I was in zeal and love to the Truth, I am the 
same still, and hope to abide the same ; for the love of God 
abides in my heart, and my love increaseth to true men more 
and more. My bowels often yearn for loose people that 
profess the Truth, and such as have done wrong things, and 
have withstood Friends' counsel, because I see that if such 
die unreconciled to God and his people, the hand of the 



92 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

Lord will be heavy upon them. The Lord show mercy to 
all such, if their day be not over. T have had good service 
in the Yearly Meeting. Blessing and honour be to the holy 
and merciful name of the Lord for ever ! 

This from thy real husband, 

Wm. Ellis/' 



An Epistle sent to Settle Monthly Meeting. 

"Boston in New England, 
20th of 8th mo. 1698. 
Dear Eriends, 

Though I be far separated from you in body, 
yet neither length of time, nor distance of place, hath hitherto 
cast you out of my remembrance ; and under the sense of 
true love to you, my secret desires are for your welfare, and 
that you all may be preserved in pure love and perfect unity 
one with another ; and that every one may fervently labour 
to promote the Truth, and the good and wholesome order of 
it ; and that wisdom may spring in your assembly, to show 
mercy to the weak that are really penitent, that they may be 
helped out of their weaknesses ; and that such as are taken 
in the snares of Satan may be helped ; and as for such as 
have been found in evil doing, and still remain in it, and by 
no means will be restrained, though often advised in great love 
and tenderness, let such know that the judgment of Truth is 
upon their evil doing, and will be over them while they abide 
therein ; and in the name of the Lord Jesus, suppress pride 
and improper liberty in your young people. Likewise that 
old people keep out of that grasping spirit of the world which 
has blinded the eyes of too many ; and some have been choked 
by it. Also in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, charge 
the rich men not to be high-minded nor to trust to uncertain 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLTS. 93 

riches, but in the living God. Also there are two sorts of 
people more, for whom my soul, in the sense thereof, doth 
often mourn ; the one is such as have wives but never a 
child, yet are rich in this world ; and the other such as never 
had wife nor child, and have toiled to get riches in abun- 
dance ; and when neither of these two states are willing to 
serve the Truth with all their souls and substance. Now I 
desire in the love of God, that if any such there be, that 
faithful Friends speak to them, and advise them to discharge 
themselves of the stewardship they are intrusted with, so that 
God may have his houour, and they the comfort by serving 
the Truth in their life time. So whether such will hear 
or no, Friends will be found clear in the day of the Lord, 
and such must bear their own trouble. And with all your 
might promote hospitality; and when your tables are filled 
with plenty, then remember the poor that are in want. 
Judge the cause of the fatherless and plead for the 
widow, and feel your bowels warm with tenderness towards 
the afflicted, and I am certain the God of heaven will bless 
you in basket and in store, and peace and love will increase 
amongst you ; and the young people will behold your good 
order, and bless the Lord on your behalf. Thus with true 
love to you all, and to honest Friends in your particular 
meetings, 

I remain your real friend, 

Wm. Ellis. 

P. S. — Know this, that I have visited Friends in Carolina, 
Virginia, Maryland, Pennyslvania, East and West Jersey, 
Long Island, and Rhode Island, mostly, and now am here 
at this time with an intent to see Friends, and go back to 
Pennsylvania. Robert Heaton is well, Nicholas Wain is 
well, and hath many fine children. Martin Wildman and 



y4 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OP 

children are well. James Dilworth's wife, I suppose, is 
gone by this to Barbadoes, and if she live, she intends to 
come for England. My love to my wife. 

W. E." 



Theodore Eccleston to Alice Ellis. 

"London, the 25th of the 8th mo. 1698. 

Dear Eriend ; 

I was often desired to write to thee by thy 
husband before he went hence, and since, by letters that 
have come from him, but I have been much in journeys this 
year. I have once been beyond sea, in Holland and divers 
other countries, where in some places we travelled three and 
sometimes four score miles between one meeting and another; 
and we were at one town where no public-friend had been 
for nearly three years. I think never since Roger Haydock 
was over. In those meetings Eriends generally speak by an 
interpreter. I was absent from home about ten weeks, and 
came back about the time thy letter came from thy husband, 
which we sent thee, and received thy answer without a direc- 
tion ; but I sent it forward to Pennsylvania, where I hope it 
would meet thy husband ; for I expect he might be there- 
abouts at the time when the ship that carried thy letter 
might come there, for I have received yesterday, another 
letter from him from thence, dated in the 6th month, 
whereby I perceive he was gotten thither, through the pro- 
vinces of Virginia and Maryland. He said nothing to the 
contrary, so I hope he was well. Aaron was left behind, 
not well, and I think had been much in sickness since he 
came there. Thy husband works very hard in meetings, but 
I hope the Lord will please to preserve him, and return him 
safe to us again when he has done his work in those places. 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 95 

In the mean time it is some comfort to hear of him, and to 
consider it is a time of liberty., and no wars this year in 
those countries ; but that which is more, is, to consider that 
it is the Lord's business that he is in, to glorify his God and 
our God, and to proclaim the day of great salvation which 
hath visited us, that others also may enjoy the same love 
wherewith God hath loved us, and may come to know and 
serve and worship God, and be brought out of the ways of 
destruction, wherein multitudes are going on ignorantly, 
supposing all is well with them. It is good to be an in- 
strument in the hand of the Lord, to save the souls of men, 
and that is the work dear William is absent about ; there- 
fore I hope it will not appear long or tedious, especially 
considering that that God, whom he serves, is the God of all 
our mercies, and I hope doth and will abundantly make up 
his absence to thee with the comforts of his Holy Spirit, to 
which Holy Spirit manifest within, I truly recommend thee, 
desiring the blessings of God inwardly and outwardly may 
be increased to thee. So dear friend, with mine and my 
wife's true love to thee, 

I rest thy assured loving friend, 

Theodore Eccleston. 

Thomas Story and Eoger Gill are going to America." 



A Letter to the Friends appointed as Overseers of the 
Church at Airton. 

" Boston, in New England, 
9th of 9th mo. 1698. 
Kind Emends ; 

After my kind and dear love to you, wishing 
with my whole heart your welfare and your steadfast walking 



96 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

in the Truth, and that the life of it may fill your hearts, 
know, that though I be far separated in body, yet are you 
not forgotten by me, but are often in my mind ; and often 
is my mind exercised to this end, that Truth may prosper 
amongst you ; and as it hath been thought good to commit 
to your trust those things that are for the good of the Church 
and the honour of God, my desire hath been and still is, 
that you may be truly careful to see that every good work be 
maintained ; and that where such hath been found short in 
any, they may be advised in the love of God, to repent and 
become anew ; and if such be truly gained, show all tender- 
ness to them that is needful ; but if any refuse amendment 
of life, show your dislike in the Lord's name. Advise 
Friends' children to keep to the Truth, and that they go not 
to other people for wives and husbands ; but if any offer to 
do so, deal with them in tenderness, and wait that the true 
sense of their misery which they are about to bring upon 
their own heads, may fill your hearts, and in that deal with 
them; and if such will not be gained but go on, when 
the Lord's hand comes to touch them, and to bring trouble 
upon them, your faithful warning may come into their minds 
and thereby they may be made to confess to your care 
of them and love to them. I have seen, since I left my 
country, the sad effects of such things, and how through them 
our people are scattered, and make confusion, and become 
unlike an assembly of saints. I wish your love may increase 
to the poor, and fatherless, and widows ; and that in the 
sense of God's love, you advise such as are rich and have 
neither wives nor children, that they be much given to hospi- 
tality and to good works : the day is coming in which such 
must know that it is better to serve the Lord with their sub- 
stance in their day, then to leave it to their brethren or 
brethren's children, or to pretend to leave it to serve when 
they are gone. Let Friends meet often together, and with 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 97 

a free heart and a willing mind \ and see that Satan be with- 
stood, who leads men to sleep and to idleness ; for it is he 
that doth this, let him and them that take his part in it say 
what they will. The Lord hath made my arm strong to war 
against him in that work ; and I hope it will be strengthened 
through the mighty God of Jacob, to war against him to the 
end of my days ; and be sure that you fail not to set true 
judgment upon the head of that spirit, I know it envies 
Truth's prosperity and the saving of people's souls. And 
labour for that which makes for peace ; so may your hope 
increase, that God will bring you to his kiugdom. Labour 
also that humility may abound to that degree, that you may 
be enabled to wash one another's feet ; and that not only the 
Ten Commandments to Israel be walked in, but the new com- 
mandment given by Christ, that is, That you love one ano- 
ther. And be sure that advice be given, not to watch over 
one another with an evil eye ; but where this is seen let sorrow 
abound; and mark those that make divisions and sow 
discord. The devil hath done more mischief by these 
things, in this part of the world, than ever he could do 
by whipping, brandiug, imprisoning or hanging on the 
gallows tree. 

And bear with me, if it be an offence to say to you, Finally 
my brethren, be all of one mind ; and so the God of all peace, 
who forgets not the labour of his servants, nor all the hard- 
ships and sorrows endured by night and by day, for this 
end only, and no other, that the kingdom of his son Jesus 
Christ may be exalted : even He, in due time, will give you 
to reap the fruit of your labours, if you continue to the 
end and faint not. 

If this come to your hand, and it be seen good, read it 
in your First-day meeting, with my dear love, in the unity 
of the blessed Spirit of Christ, who hath washed us from 
our sins in his own blood, and will give us an inheritance 

H 



98 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OP 

amongst all them that are sanctified, if we continue steadfast 
in faith and good works unto the end. In this love 
I dearly salute you all, with all faithful Priends. By this 
you may know that I have been over most of these countries, 
and now hope to return to Pennsylvania, which is near 
four hundred miles off, with many great rivers, sounds, 
and bays of water between. These I have passed over before, 
with much difficulty at times. If I live to come there, I 
hope the Lord will open my way ; and if it be to return, 
be sure I shall be glad. Pray remember my poor wife, who 
parted with me freely ; she seems to me to be like the silly 
dove without its mate, who mourns for its companion; speak 
comfortably to her, and let no one do her wrong in any case 
that is in your power to set right. My dear love to her and 
to Priends of your Monthly Meeting, or elsewhere, who love 
the Lord Jesus Christ. Aaron Atkinson's love is to you all. 

Your real, constant and true friend, 

Wm. Ellis." 



It is worthy of notice, that on the same day on which 
William Ellis allowed his affection for his wife to dictate the 
expressions of fear respecting her, in the foregoing letter, 
she addressed the following to him, showing how groundless 
were his fears. 

" Airton, the 9th of the 9th mo. 1698. 

Dear and loving Husband ; 

After the salutation of endeared love to thee, 
by this thou mayst know, that I have sent thee two letters 
already; and I hope thou wilt have received them before 
this comes to hand ; it would be great satisfaction to my 
mind to know that thou hadst once heard from me. Likewise, 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 99 

my love, I have received six letters from thee since thou 
took shipping, and they were all great gladness to my 
mind, and especially thy last, dated the 26th of the 5th mo. 
last, wherein thou signifiedst that thou wast easy both in 
body and mind ; and I earnestly pray unto the Lord for the 
continuation of the same, and that he may still bear thy 
head over all, and above all the troublesome seas of oppo- 
sition, which I am sensible at times thou meetest withal; 
but blessed be the Lord ! I am fully satisfied that he will 
make thee as a fenced city, and a brazen wall, against all thy 
opposers, not to be prevailed against. Tor this cause I 
heartily bless God on thy behalf, that it hath pleased him to 
spare me to see this day ; and I earnestly desire of the Lord, 
that I may prize it. So my dear love, seeing that it hath 
pleased God to bless us every way, and to fill us with the 
new wine of his kingdom, many times to the admiration of 
my soul, I can truly say we are engaged above many others 
to serve him faithfully. And I earnestly desire thee in that 
which is beyond words, to be very careful of thyself every 
way, and still mind the inward drawings of the Lather's love, 
that thou mayst, in his acceptable time, fully complete his 
work which he was pleased to call thee to, and clear thyself 
fully in his sight. Now in the consideration of thy care and 
love which thou hast had towards me every way, for my 
good, and for the loving and good advice I have received at 
thy hand, both when near, and far off, in other islands, 
far remote from me, the remembrance hereof many times 
tenders and melts my heart and spirit before the Lord, so 
that I cannot word the nearness thou art to me continually. 
I daily feel the shedding abroad of the love of God to fill 
my soul, and to overcome my spirit, so that he makes up all 
wants, on all hands, and on every account : my soul gives 
him the glory and the praise ; for such are his doings to 
them that serve him with a willing mind. And many 

h 2 



100 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

precious seasons we enjoy in the presence of God, with the 
many faithful messengers whom he hath drawn in his love, 
to visit us ; and many of them, I believe, if not all, remem- 
ber thee in their prayers to the Lord, for thy preservation 
and safety every way ; and many there are whom God hath 
raised in his infinite love, to sound forth the day of salvation ; 
and their trumpets have given a certain sound ; and it is a 
gladdening to my heart to see Truth prosper ; and I believe 
it will increase from one end of the earth to the other. The 
Lord increase it, is the desire of my soul. So my dear love, 
let not the care thou hast for me lay over hard upon thee ; 
for I want for nothing which is good ; the Lord makes up 
all and every want ; only remember me in that bond which 
cannot be broken. And in this inexpressible love do I 
remain, 

Thy true and loving wife, 

Alice Ellis." 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 101 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Notice of John Field. Letters from John Field to Alice Ellis, — and from 
Aaron Atkinson to William Ellis. On the Payment of Ministers. 
Letter from William Ellis to his wife. Notice of Daniel Gould and 
letter from him to William Ellis. Notice of John Bowstead and letter 
from him to Alice Ellis. Letter from William Ellis to John Wynn. 

John Field, the writer of the following letter, was the 
author of several short essays, some of them controversial : 
he was likewise the editor of the fourth and fifth parts of 
"Piety Promoted. - " He took a deep interest in the welfare 
of the Society of Friends, and died at Hammersmith near 
London in 1723, aged 75. 

"London, the 26th of the 9th mo. 1698. 

Loving friend, Alice Ellis ; 

I have received a letter from thy husband, dated 
the 13th of the 5th mo. last, in Maryland, wherein he 
desires me to write to thee, and to let thee know that his 
dear love is to thee and to Friends ; and he signifies that he 
Lath been out of health, at times, but kept travelling; and 
the Lord hath helped him wonderfully ; and in three weeks 
or thereabouts he intended to be in Pennsylvania. And my 
desires and prayers unto God are, that he will be with him, 
and that the angel of Ins presence may attend him, and that 
by the Lord's counsel and in his wisdom he may be ordered, 
and may order all things to the Lord's glory and his people's 



102 LITE AND CORRESPONDENCE OP 

comfort and edification ; and that thou and he may be pre- 
served near to God and in his fear ; that ye may enjoy his 
blessing : and that thou mayst know him to be to thee as a 
husband, which I doubt not but it will be the case, as thou 
art so preserved unto the end. And, dear friend ! let me 
say, although unknown to thee, It is certainly our duty and 
interest to be freely resigned unto the will of God, in what 
state or condition, or under what exercise or affliction he 
may suffer us to be ; and to that end we ought daily to wait 
on him and to pray to him, and be found in the faithful dis- 
charge of our duty ; and then he will not be wanting to 
extend Iris goodness and renew Ins mercies to us daily ; but 
he will be near to us and comfort us under all the afflictions 
that may attend us, and will sweeten them to us. And 
although the Lord hath concerned and employed thy husband 
in Iris work, and honourable service in countries remote, he 
is able to preserve him and thee, and by his good Providence 
so to order it as that you may see and enjoy one another again 
to your mutual comfort, which I truly desire. So with my 
kind love to thee and Friends, 

I rest thy truly loving friend, 

John Field." 



"The 1st of the 10th mo. 1698. 
Dear William Ellis ; 

My true companion, whom my soul loves ; 
thou art oft in my remembrance, and the thoughts of thy 
true zeal to God's everlasting Truth, in every appearance, is 
comfortable to me. Our dear friends, Edward Shipping, 
Richard Easton, and Daniel Sakra, are well, and their love 
is to thee. We four have been together to the east, and 
have had a blessed time among them, both as to good 
weather, and service for the Truth. We had fifteen meetings 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 103 

beyond Salem. Oh ! I can truly say, the Lord's goodness 
was plentifully handed forth among these people. Dear 
friend ! I cannot freely come from this place straight to thee 
to Ehode Island, by reason of a concern that is on my mind 
to go to Scituate again, and from thence, either to Sandwich 
or to John Tucker's ; I cannot yet tell whether ; but I hope 
I shall find freedom to omit Sandwich, and places that way, 
to Sunnycane, and so come to John Tucker's, and have 
three or four meetings thereabouts only, and one at Joseph 
Wanton's as I come to Ehode Island. So I shall leave thee 
to thy freedom in the Lord, whether thou wilt visit the main, 
and go on to Long Island with H. C. or stay and rest thy 
body till I come. My love in the Truth to honest Eriends, 
Dear friend ! be not discouraged in thyself, for thou hast a 
good service for the Lord. Thy solid weight reaches to the 
consciences of many, and makes some shake the head when 
they know not what to say ; or only to say, He is a true 
man. With true love to thee, 

I rest thy real Friend, 

Aaron Atkinson. 1 " 



Although the Society of Eriends bears a decided testimony 
to the practice of taking money for preaching, under the 
conviction that such a practice is opposed to the precept of 
Christ respecting authority from him to preach, " Ereely ye 
have received; freely give;" yet, according to the circum- 
stances in which it was said, " The labourer is worthy of his 
hire/' they entertain the travelling messengers of the Gospel 
hospitably and free of charge, and likewise generally provide 
for the payment of their travelling expenses. In some in- 
stances, however, their ministers have thought it best to pay 
their own travelling expenses, and in this respect also, to 
" make the Gospel of Christ without charge." This seems 



104 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OE 

to have been the case with William Ellis, in order that he 
might " cut off occasion from them which desired occasion/' 
as appears by the following letter. 

" Chester County in Pennsylvania, 
1st of 11th mo. 1698. 
Dear Wiee ; 

After my true and unfeigned love to thee, by this 
know, that I received thy letter with great gladness, and am 
glad thou art well every way, for my desires are answered on 
that account, and that all Friends are well, and of the establish- 
ment of the meeting of ministers at Settle. And I pray God 
that all Friends concerned may wait in God's counsel ; and 
that the service may be really answered for which the meeting 
is intended ; and that all may help in that which makes for 
peace and comfort. I have had several kind letters from 
London that have comforted me. Now as to my travel, T 
shall give thee an account as followeth : — Since I wrote to 
thee in the 7th month, I have been in New England, where 
I have travelled with much difficulty, being very weak in 
body ; yet this I can say, The Lord hath wonderfully assisted 
me, and in my weakness every way, he hath made known his 
strength ; and through the various tempers of men's spirits, 
he hath made way for me, and opened my heart to go 
through such exercise as fell to my lot ; and in divers 
places, the cold-minded are warmed, and the indifferent- 
minded stirred up, and the mournful are comforted; and 
many begin to see the beauty of Truth, and are of a mind 
that I love, that is, to live nearer the Truth than they have 
done. I came back hither about three weeks since; and 
the Lord's goodness fills my heart, and my spirit comes up 
over most of things that have bowed me down ; and 
methinks my mind grows easy and full of gladness in my 
goings on, so that I hope in this condition I shall set my 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 105 

face for England again. Aaron and I parted in New Eng- 
land, for our exercises were heavy and days short. It was 
by free consent, and he is not yet come hither. I hope I 
shall be ready to take ship in the First Month ; and I am 
likely to have a fine company of Friends. Likewise further 
know, that thou art often in my mind, and I cannot express 
my care for thee. Sickness hath been so much upon me, 
that for a time I could not see through it ; but my heart 
was much bowed, and thou wast much in my mind j and I 
saw such exercises that were likely to attend thee if I was 
removed, that my very soul melted in me, in that love I 
have to thee. And now the Lord that trieth the hearts of 
men, and comforteth the bowed down, hath restored me 
again ; and I am now as cheerful in body and mind as I 
have been for a long time. I also accept of Friends'' love 
in general ; and as to my men, I take it kindly that they 
remember me with love ; and I wish they may take it kindly, 
that I wish their welfare, and that my fervent prayers are 
for their safety out of evil, and that they may devoutly serve 
the Lord in their day. I kindly accept of Eichard Wil- 
kinson's love, and his wife's, whom I have loved many years ; 
but I should have been much more glad to have had a few 
hues from his hand. I wrote to him and to John Tomlin- 
son, and Thomas Stockdale, of some things that were in my 
mind ; I hope they have got the letter by this time. I 
wrote to Friends of Settle Monthly Meeting, because of the 
true love that is in my heart. My love is to all my kindred, 
and there is sometimes sorrow in my mind, that they will 
not believe that God hath given his good Spirit to them, that 
[if accepted] will open to them the earnest of the pleasure 
of God's kingdom. I would gladly have heard if any had 
been added to Friends. Thou sayst nothing of the death of 
George Myers ; it is reported so here, but I cannot believe 
it ; if he be not dead, mind my love to him, and to John 



106 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OP 

Hall and his wife. Every time I think of John Hall it is a 
comfort to me that he hath left his innkeeping. Advise 
Mends to live in love and to be all of one mind, and then 
will peace and quietness abound. I cannot express the good 
I had by Adam Squire's letter ; tell him I say not much, 
but my deep desires are that he may be safe from the hurtful 
things in this world. If Simeon Wilkinson be set up, bid 
him set Truth before his business ; tell him it hath been his 
master's way so to do, and the Lord shows mercy to him. 
Tell Friends to show mercy, but before that, that true 
judgment be kept up in your meetings. Advise sleepers to 
awake and come to judgment while time is. My love to 
John Wade who hath shown kindness to me for the Truth's 
sake; I hope the Lord will show kindness to him in a 
needful time. Remember my love to Friends of Bentham 
Meeting ; tell them they are often in my mind. My love to 
Friends of Settle Meeting, and Salterforth Meeting. My 
love to all my men, and if Christopher Tatham be gone, bid 
him think of my advice ; I know it will be to his profit ; he 
is, or may be sensible of my care and love to him. In your 
affairs see that the widows and fatherless be not neglected ; on 
these accounts I have said most that may be needful at 
present, only this ; be sure thou do not overdo thyself in 
business -, that if it please God we meet again, it may be to 
our ease and comfort. Further know, that I have travelled 
through these countries, and Friends are very kind ; but 
I have not laid my hands on one penny from Friends, to 
defray my charges with, though I have often had it offered. 
So if any upbraid thee therewith, and say that I have left 
thee, in order that I might get money, tell them in the name 
of the Lord, that it is a lie. So with true love to thee, 
wishing we may live sensible of the great mercy of God, 
I rest thy truly loving husband, 

Wm. Ellis." 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 107 

The following notice of Daniel Gould, the writer of the 
subjoined letter, is extracted from the " Record of the deaths 
of Friends and their children, of Rhode Island Monthly 
Meeting," page 24 : — Daniel Gould, aged near ninety years. 
He departed this life at his own house in Newport on Ehode 
Island, y e 26th day of y e 1st month, 1716, and was buried 
in Friends burial ground near our meeting-house, — who bore 
a faithful testimony for y e Truth he professed, both in suffer- 
ing many stripes at Boston, with frequent testimonies in 
public, and finished this life in a full assurance of life eternal, 
which he signified on his death-bed, and encouraged all to 
believe and walk in the same Truth. 

" The 1st of the 11th mo. 1698. 

Dear William and greatly beloved ! 

Tor the soundness and savouriness of thy 
spirit, and the sweet savour thou hast left behind thee, 
many have thee in good remembrance, and would be very 
glad to see thee here again. If the Lord should so order it, 
thy pruning hook, I hope, will do good amongst them, for 
skilful vine dressers are precious, who first have a discerning 
between the necessaries and the superfluities, and then cut 
with an even hand ; and the trees that are saved shall bless 
the primer. My love to Friends wherever thou goest, that 
have a remembrance of me ; and I would also have them 
remember their first love, that they keep it and grow in the 
simplicity thereof; this will warm and comfort their hearts, 
being knit together in love. So with my hearty and true 
love to thyself and Friends where thou comest, Farewell ! 

Daniel Gould." 

John Bowstead, the writer of the following letter, was a 
native of Cumberland : he joined the Society of Friends 



108 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

when young, and became a laborious minister amongst them. 
He died in 171 6, aged 57, and was buried at Scotby near 
Carlisle. See Piety Promoted, Part VI. 



To Alice Ellis. 

' ' Bainbridge, in Wensleydale, 
9th of 11th mo. 1698. 
Dear Priend, 

Thou hast often been in my remembrance 
since thy dear husband was drawn from thee into the Lord's 
service beyond the seas ; where I understand the Lord hath 
blessed his labours with an acceptance and good success ; 
and seeing it is the Lord's own doing in separating thy dear 
husband from thee, I do not doubt but that the Lord that 
has made thee willing to give him up, will also sanctify thy 
exercises to thee, as thou keepest in his pure fear ; and as he 
that was a blessing and a comfort to thee when present, was 
so made to thee by that hand which separated him from thee 
for his own Name's sake, so whether he live or whether he 
die, he is the Lord's. And he that hath blessed you together, 
can also bless you when asunder for his Name's sake, and 
make good his ancient promise, that he would be a father to 
the fatherless and a husband to the widow. I write this in 
love to thee, as knowing that thy husband is a man of God, 
and hath served him fervently and faithfully in this Jais 
glorious day ; and may He that blessed him, bless thee too, 
is the fervent desire of thy true friend, 

John Bowstead." 

John "Wynn, to whom the following letter was addressed, 
resided at Bradford, in Yorkshire, and was a minister much 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 109 

esteemed among Friends : he is mentioned in page 24 of 
this volume, where there is also a letter to him, and there is 
a Testimony respecting him in a subsequent chapter. 

"Philadelphia, the 28th of the 11th mo. 169-?. 

Dear Friend, 

Whom I have dearly loved many years, because 
of thy love to the Truth; nor could that lurking spirit 
that privately goes about making itself busy in other men's 
matters, under the pretence of building up the Church, take 
hold of my mind to lessen thee in my esteem ; for I know its 
end is to break the unity of brethren, let its pretence be 
what it will. And know, that though I be far off, yet thou 
hast been often in my remembrance to comfort ; because I 
have a sense, that thou wouldst stand by my poor wife in 
any right thing. And further, know that I have gone 
through great exercise in body, and sometimes I have ques- 
tioned my being taken away. I have had sore sickness in 
New England, but the Lord, that always comforteth the dis- 
tressed, hath helped me. Likewise the weight of what I 
am here about, hath been weightily upon me ; first, that I 
might be kept to the Boot, from which I have ever been 
supplied with virtue and life to perform my duty ; and as I 
have been under danger of dryness possessing my heart, I 
being so often under exercises in public and great meetings, 
it hath the more humbled my mind in secret ; and my heart 
and soul are thankful to the Lord, that he hath grafted that 
daily care in my heart, to supplicate him daily for new sup- 
plies ; for I see this is the way to keep down pride, and 
conceitedness of men's own works and doings, to be better 
than other men's. I see little to boast of unless it be 
weakness, as without the help of the great God we are but 
men ; and as I have travelled in the sense of these things, 



1J0 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

the Lord hath, wonderfully assisted my spirit, so that I have 
been filled with might and power to the awakening of the 
indifferent-minded, and hypocrites, and double dealers ; and 
to the comfort of such as mourn and have been ready to say, 
as Zion said of old, " The Lord hath forgotten me." O, 
the sweetness of the Truth, and the joy of it, that hath often 
filled my heart ! it hath made me to cry aloud, and not to 
spare my strength in the congregations of the Lord's people : 
and my prayers are, that through all services and attain- 
ments, my soul may be affected with the sweetness of that 
life by which my strength is renewed ; for I am much of a 
mind that those who abide here will never be moved. 
When we went to New England our exercises were such, 
that we thought it best to separate by free consent ; showing 
the reason to some honest Friends ; and it seemed good in 
their eyes ; so I have but once seen Aaron Atkinson since. 
And finding my body fail, I had a mind to come hither with 
what speed I could, visiting Eriends as I came ; and I have 
been here about three weeks, waiting for Aaron, expecting him 
every day, or to hear from him. Now, know that T find my 
mind much eased, and in a little time, hope I shall be easy 
to leave these parts ; but Aaron being so long sick in 
Virginia, he hath yet West Jersey, Pennsylvania, and many 
Friends in* Maryland to see; so that I begin to doubt 
of his company home, though I should gladly have it ; but 
as far as I can see, I hope I shall be easy to return to 
England in the latter end of the Eirst Month, or early in the 
Second. And if the Lord show me favour, to bring me safe 
and right and clear every way, it will make my heart glad ; 
and to see my old friends in England again, whose love hath 
always been firm and true to me in my exercises. My dear 
love to thy wife and daughter ; I wish she may grow sensible 
of the life of Truth. My love to my dear wife whom I am 
much concerned about, for her safety every way, and that 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. Ill 

she may be preserved out of the reach of the enemy, and the 
hands of unreasonable men. My love to all true hearted 
Friends wherever thou comest, and if any inquire of news 
from far, tell them that the Lord is at work to make Zion a 
compact city, and build up her walls; and the Lord is 
bringing back the captivity of his people that they may 
dwell in the midst of her : glory and honour and everlasting 
thanks be given and sounded forth to Iris worthy and 
glorious name ! 

This is from thy real friend, 

Wm. Ellis." 



112 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 



CHAPTEE IX. 

Letters from William Ellis to John Chanler and Samuel Bound. Notice 
of Phineas Pemberton. Letters from Phineas Pemberton and 
William Gabbitus to William Ellis, — from John Tomkins to Alice 
Ellis. Notice of Gilbert Thompson. Letters from Gilbert Thompson 
to Alice Ellis, — from William Southebe and Rowland Ellis to William 
Ellis. Notice of William Fishbourn. Letters from William Fish- 
bourn and Griffith Owen to William Ellis. Notice of Anthony 
Morris. Letter from Anthony Morris to William Ellis. Notice 
of Samuel Carpenter. Letters from Samuel Carpenter and Richard 
Johns to William Ellis. John Cowgill to the Offspring of Believing 
Parents. 



To John Chanler. 

"Philadelphia, the 11th of 1st mo. 169J-. 
My kind friend and landlord ; 

After my true respects to thee and thy wife, 
by this know, that I thought it no less than my duty 
to give thee a few lines, to acknowledge thy civility and 
kindness to us, both as strangers, and as people fearing God, 
though thou thyself knowest we sought nothing of thee but 
love ; and this, we had freely ; and let me freely tell thee, 
that I believe the love of God is much towards thee ; and if 
thou mind the Word that is ingrafted in thy heart, thou 
wilt find that it will open thy understanding in things per- 
taining to thy salvation. I believe it hath been already at 
work upon thy mind ; and let men say of it what they will, 
I do know that it is the leaven of the kingdom, and the 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 113 

substance of the parable of the grain of mustard seed ; also 
of that of the woman that lost her piece of money, and in 
searching and sweeping her own house, found it. Likewise 
it is the pearl of great price, for which the merchant was 
to sell or part with all, before he could obtain it. And 
Christ says, He that is with you shall be in you ; and it is 
also said, What is to be known of God is manifest in men. 
The Prophets also say, That in the last days, the Lord would 
make a new Covenant with the house of Israel and Judah, 
even would write his law in their hearts, and put his fear in 
their minds ; and that all should know the Lord. And I 
pray God thou mayst take heed to his Word, and it will 
guide thee in the way that is acceptable to God ; and this is 
that which I desire may come upon thee, and upon all man- 
kind, though some speak hardly of us, without cause or 
knowledge of us ; but as for such, I pray God to forgive 
them ; they know not what they do. My respects are to 
the little man in the white hat, his name I know not, he sat 
with me at thy house ; he came from Plymouth, in Old 
England. My companion is come, and he told me of thy 
kindness to him. I took it as done to myself. So in true 
love to thee, 

I remain thy true friend, 

Wm. Ellis." 



"Philadelphia, the 11th of the 1st mo. 169*-. 
Dear friend, Samuel Bound ; 

After true love to thee, by this know, that I 
was somewhat uneasy that I parted so suddenly with thee 
and George Langlay ; however it is gladness to my mind to 
see thy zeal for Truth, and thine and thy wife's dedication 
to the service of it; it is also my great comfort, to see so 

i 



114 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

many that are stirred up with love to the Truth ; and I 
desire that all Friends may labour to walk in it ; and that 
Friends may come out of all that which tends to improper 
liberty, or to gratify a vain mind, whether in house or habit, 
loose talking or walking ; and as well in monthly-meetings 
for business, as in other meetings, that Friends may sit 
under an awful sense of the presence of God in their minds ; 
and whatever comes before you to consider, keep in peace 
and love ; and labour to be all of one mind, and take care 
to prevent all such words or discourses, as may in any way 
stir up heats or aggravate one another. Let Christ be head 
and master and governor ; and then will you feel, in your- 
selves, the increase of that unity which always attended 
faithful brethren. It was said to be like the oil that was 
poured on the head of Aaron, and as the dew of Hermon's 
hill, or the rain upon the mountains of Zion. Advise 
Friends to be true in retirement, and that they may feel 
no contentment till Truth fill their hearts ; and that Friends 
may bring their children to meetings with them ; and that 
none be too much set upon business, but rather spend some 
time to see one another in your particular meetings ; and 
put Friends in mind to keep up their week-day meetings 
through your island ; also that the younger people may not 
dis-esteem the elder that have been true in their time. I am 
somewhat of a mind that the Lord will enlarge Friends in 
your island, if they be true to him ; and I further advise all 
to take care not to touch with that ranting spirit, nor to 
show any pity to it ; but in God's wisdom and power to 
stand over it ; I never saw any to prosper that ever lent 
it any assistance. Fail not to write once a year to thy 
wife's mother in England. Let honest George Law see 
my letter ; my love is much to him ; he behaved himself 
to me like a man, a friend, and a faithful brother ; and the 
Lord's goodness filled his heart often. The Lord thoroughly 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 115 

work him into that frame of mind in which he may faithfully 
serve him in all things. So with true love to thee, thy wife 
and friends, 

I remain thy true friend, 

Wm. Ellis/' 



Phineas Pemberton, the writer of the following letter, 
emigrated from Lancashire, where he had been a useful 
member of the Society of Friends. In 1697 he was a 
member of Council and Speaker of the Assembly of Penn- 
sylvania: he died in 1702, having been very serviceable in 
things temporal and spiritual in his adopted country. — See 
Life of Samuel Eothergill, page 160. 

"The 18th of the 1st mo. 169?-. 

Dear emend, Wm. Ellis ; 

Thy faithfulness to the Lord, the plainness of 
thy testimony, the uprightness of thy conversation, and thy 
labour of love, have been of great benefit to many, and there- 
fore many do greatly love thee ; and I amongst the rest, 
who have reaped the benefit of thy labour, am now drawn 
to give thee these few lines as a Farewell ! doubting whether 
I may see thee any more ; but I shall have that spiritual 
enjoyment of thee, of which the saints in fellowship are 
made partakers, and of winch the things in this world 
cannot prevent us, and wherein we are often comforted 
in those dear remembrances we have of one another, until 
the time of that full fruition of enjoyment which is laid 
up and prepared for us in the kingdom of rest and ever- 
lasting peace : and truly the remembrance of thee at this 
time is very pleasant to me, and the sense of the sweet and 
comfortable seasons we have had together, dwells upon my 

T 9 



116 LIFE AND COKRESPONDENCE OF 

spirit, and works me into a humble frame of mind, to give 
the Lord the glory, who so tenderly takes care of his, every- 
where. This is not, ought not, and I believe will not be 
forgotten by the faithful, but will more and more engage 
our hearts to love and faithfully to follow and worship him, 
who over all is worthy. Thus being in haste, but in dear 
and tender love, I bid thee Farewell ! who am thine in 
sincerity and truth, 

Phineas Pembeeton." 



Prom William Gabbitus. 

"Philadelphia, the 25th of 1st mo. 169?-. 

Dear William, 

I thought I parted very hardly with thee, when 
I last saw thee ; indeed I did not think it would have come 
so very near me ; but seeing that it must be so, that we 
must now part with thee, the Lord's will be done ! I do not 
know what makes it harder to part with thee than with some 
others, but I could gladly have wished for an opportunity to 
have seen thee. I think I was too tender of some engage- 
ment then appointed, which I now see I might have omitted, 
to have enjoyed more of thy company. Blessed be the Lord 
that hath made thee so near and dear to us ! for we must 
needs confess it is his doing. I humbly pray, we may 
answer his love in these things. Anthony Morris and 
I had concluded to have seen thee once more, either in 
Chester or Newcastle County ; but when we heard of thy 
concern for more haste than we expected, it put a stop to 
our designs. The Lord, if it be his blessed will, preserve 
thy tender body safe from dangers both by sea and land ! 
that thy arrrival in our native land may again be the re- 
joicing and comfort of many brethren and sisters there, but 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 117 

more especially of thy dearly beloved wife and family. 
Friends with us are reasonably well; my wife desires to 
be remembered to thee. Dear heart, our spirits go along 
with thee, and love follows and melts and runs towards 
thee ; but it is for his sake who sets the fountain open : 
for his love's sake we love thee, for thy sake we pray to him 
that his favour may be with thee for ever ; it is He who 
gives of his Divine gifts, wisdom, courage, sincerity, and 
sound judgment, crowned with meekness and charity, as 
ornaments to the sons of men. The Lord prolong thy days, 
if it be Ins will, that by the heavenly service and savour 
winch he hath been pleased to put upon thee, many may be 
turned unto him. Now dear heart ! not knowing whether 
ever we shall see thy face again, which does not seem likely 
at present, it was in my mind to give thee these few lines by 
Ann Dilworth ; and my spirit breathes that the Lord may be 
with thee and with all our spirits. The Friends that are 
prisoners at Burlington, for the country privileges, were very 
well in health ; last night but one, my wife and I were with 
them ; they were also very cheerful ; but I cannot yet see 
when their troubles of that kind can come to an end ; to me 
it looks duskish at present. Dear heart, remember us when 
we see thee not. In the love of God, I bid thee truly, 
Farewell ! 

Thy truly loving friend and well-wisher, 

Wm. Gabbitus." 



John Tomkins to Alice Ellis* 

"London, the 10th of 12th mo. 1691. 
Dear Friend, 

At the request of thy dear husband, I send 
this, to let thee know that he was well at Boston, in New 



118 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

England, about the 9th of the 9th mo. last, in good service 
for God and his blessed Truth. The labours of thy dear hus- 
band with his companion Aaron Atkinson, and the other 
two Friends, Thomas Turner and Thomas Chalkley, have 
been very acceptable ; and I have both received and seen 
many good accounts thereof, from many Friends in those 
parts. I suppose thou mayst have heard, that Thomas 
Turner hath been returned nearly a month. Thy husband 
intended to go back from Boston to Pennsylvania; and 
afterwards, if he find his spirit clear, he hopes to hasten home- 
wards, to be here by the next Yearly Meeting. Here are 
enclosed two letters, one of a public tendency, they both 
came to me as they are, unsealed. I know not how to 
forward them to the Friends designed, but by sending them 
to thee ; and I do this the rather, as being of thy husband's 
own writing, thou mayst understand by them the nature of 
his service. Dear friend, thou seest that hitherto the Lord 
hath been with thy husband, and made his service pros- 
perous ; and I doubt not, but He will be with him to the 
end. This is encouragement to thee, as thou gavest him up 
freely to the Lord's service, so to keep in that resignation 
until he hath fulfilled his Master's will ; it will make his 
absence still easy to thyself and to him also. I feel that 
his love is for the general good of the church of Christ, not 
only in those parts where he travels, but also for his 
brethren here, and for the Church in those parts where 
thou dwellest, that they may grow in grace and in the 
knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Dear 
friend, thus according to his request, and my inclination 
also, have I sent these few lines ; and with the salutation of 
mine and my wife's dear love to thee, 

I rest thy friend in the Truth, 

John Tomkins." 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 119 

Gilbert Thompson, the writer of the following letter, re- 
sided at Penketh in Lancashire, where he kept a boarding- 
school. Professing the religious principles of the Society of 
Friends, he was prosecuted by the intolerant party then in 
power, for keeping a school, and for this alleged offence was 
imprisoned in Lancaster Castle ! He became a minister about 
the period at which this letter was written to Alice Ellis, and 
was much esteemed both in this capacity and in that of a 
preceptor of youth : he died in 1719, aged 61 years. — See 
notice of him in Piety Promoted, Part VIII. and Memoirs of 
Samuel Eothergill, page 11. 



" Sankey, the 28th of the 11th mo. 169 
Dear Eriend, Alice Ellis ; 



I often remember thee though I seldom write 
to thee, and were I near thee, I could be glad of thy com- 
pany, and to partake with thee in the fruits of thy faith, and 
hear of the noble acts which the Lord hath enabled thee to 
perform since thou lovedst him, for his mercy's sake. I 
have beheld with admiration, the industry, ability, willing- 
ness and resignedness, which the Lord, upon divers occasions 
hath endued thee with, and made thereby a meet companion 
and yoke-fellow to dear William Ellis, whose heart and all 
his faculties are freely and truly devoted to those particular 
services Iris Master hath engaged him in, and in which, I 
doubt not, but as he hath been, he still is, truly serviceable 
in Iris lot and place, having an eye to the honour of Him that 
called him when he was little, and to that recompense of 
reward laid up for the righteous. I question not but thou 
meetest with exercises and divers difficulties, in his absence ; 
and yet, I as well believe, thou knowest how they all become 
sanctified, and canst, in the faith, press forward and see 



120 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

beyond them all, and feel a sweetness in standing in thy lot 
and testimony what way soever it stand. Thy strength and 
experience I know go beyond mine, else would I say, Main- 
tain thy own lot, and stand in thy own rank and place of 
service, and let others do so too ; and then every one's task 
will be best done. Let the peaceable wisdom that is from 
above, and settles our spirits, be dwelt in, and therein, 
whatever is done more or less, will be to the glory of God, 
and every one's particular comfort. I am straitened now for 
time, otherwise I feel an openness that could enlarge; but 
I can say, I read thee and some other dear Friends beyond 
words. There is a more settled knowledge of such as are in 
the true faith, and live in the Truth, than can or need be set 
forth by lines. With a tender salutation of love I bid 
thee Farewell, and remain 

Thy well-wisher in my measure. 

Gilbert Thompson." 



" Philadelphia, the 26th of 1st mo. ] 699. 

Dear Friend, Wm. Ellis. 

Not having the opportunity to be more in thy 
company when thou was here amongst us, I could not well 
omit to signify my true love to thee, and unity with that 
measure of the blessed, holy power which I have had a sense 
of as attending thy ministry, and thy plain doctrine ; and of 
thy promoting true spiritual and inward worship to God. 
Thou hast been instrumental to help forward our retired meet- 
ing here, which I hope will be of good service. This many of 
us, I believe, have long desired ; being truly sensible that 
the perfection of Divine worship and prayer to God, as to 
our own particulars, is performed mostly in true silence and 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 121 

inward retiredness before our great Creator ; and this indeed 
is much the end of outward testimony, and is that into which 
my soul desires to be gathered more and more. So 
with true and unfeigned love to thee, desiring the Lord 
may prosper thee in his service, 

I remain thy friend, 

William Southebe." 



Eowland Ellis, the writer of the following letter, was a 
man of note among the Welsh settlers in Pennsylvania : he 
visited America in 1686, for the purpose of selecting a 
place on which to locate his family. In the voyage thither, 
which was very long, many persons who sailed with him 
died for want of food. He returned to England in the 
following year, leaving one of his sons in America ; and did 
not finally remove his family till 1697. At this time he 
was about forty-five years of age ; and it is said, he lived 
long to do good, his service both in the church of Christ 
and in the State being considerable. He was a preacher 
among the Quakers, and an acceptable man in every station. 
He died at his son-in-law, John Evans's, in North Wales, 
Pennsylvania, in his eightieth year. — See Proud' s History of 
Pennsylvania, Yol. I. page 220. 

"The 28th of the 1st mo. 1699. 

My esteemed eeiend, William Ellis ; 

If these lines come to thy hands, thou mayst 
understand what often hath been in my mind to tell thee, 
That if ever it come before thee to visit Eriends in Wales, 
I desire this kindness of thee, partly for thy name's sake, 
but rather upon Truth's account. When at Dolgelly Meet- 
ing, in Merionethshire, in North Wales, to inquire for my 



122 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

daughter, if she be then alive, and for her husband who is 
a priest. If thou nndest thyself free and anything inclined 
thereunto, knock at his door, and see whether she is quite 
dead, or slumbering among the dead. I do believe a living 
invitation may call home a strayed sheep, though gone far 
into the wilderness, and there, it may be, fast entangled in 
briars, and bound up in strong chains. If there is any 
breath left in her, she may answer, though in a land of 
darkness, and under the shadow of death. The good 
Shepherd takes great pains to unloose the lost sheep from 
their bonds and entanglements, and David-like, killing the 
lion and delivering the lamb out of his mouth, to bring the 
same to their right mind, to know the Shepherd's tents. 
Well, my friend ! I believe some have done things of this 
nature ; and who can tell, if it come before thee, but thou 
mayst through the power of God, be instrumental to open 
their eyes ; they both are very kind to Mends. Our friend, 
Hugh Roberts, hath twice visited them, they being sick ; 
her husband took it very kindly. So with my dear love 
unto thee, 

I remain thy friend, 

Rowland Ellis." 



"William Pishbourn, the writer of the following letter, was 
a member of the Assembly of Pennsylvania, for Philadelphia 
county, in 1716 and subsequent years. 

"Philadelphia, the 2nd of 2nd mo. 1699. 
Dear and well-esteemed Priend, William Ellis ; 

Por so in my small measure of the Truth as it 
is in Jesus, I am bold to call thee ; not with flattery, nor 
with deceivable speeches, but with a true esteem, as it is 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 123 

wrought by the power of God. And as I hope I do humbly 
and reverently esteem the many mercies, blessings, and 
favours which I receive from the hand of the Lord, I also 
hope I ever shall measurably esteem his servants; and I 
greatly desire I may be bowed down under a sense of the 
mercies of our God, more and more every day. My friend ! 
with these lines I dearly salute thee with my unfeigned love, 
wishing thy health, prosperity, and preservation every way ; 
and I earnestly desire thee to remember, as thou hast access 
to the throne of God's grace, thy poor friend, who travels in 
weakness, fear and hope, dread and humility, before the 
Lord ; and sometimes is ready to say, I fear, at one time or 
another, I shall fall by the hand of the enemy that daily 
besets me. Oh ! desire for me, that I may not be tried 
beyond my strength ; for the wicked one sees the weak part, 
and he is often at work there ; but blessed be the God and 
father of all our mercies, his power, in the very glorious 
appearance of it, is very strong, as I am kept mollified and 
melted down before him. Oh ! my soul and spirit ever 
desire to dwell low before him ; I would to God I had a 
tent to dwell in, in the valley of humility, and that I might 
always abide in it ; then I should be safe. Pray visit me 
with a few lines from thy hand, as thy spirit hath freedom ; 
and I desire thee to pray to the Lord, that I may ever be 
sensible of my condition, and that nothing may be hid in 
me that is contrary to, or that oppresses the good seed. 
Look upon these Hues as from one that wants utterance to 
express my desires. To the Lord I leave thee, and to the 
guidance of his good Spirit, 

And bid thee, Farewell ! 

William Fishbourn." 



124 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

To William Ellis. 

" Philadelphia, the 3rd of 2nd mo. 1699. 

My dear Friend, 

I cannot forget thee, nor thy service or labour 
of love amongst us, the remembrance of which draws my 
sincere love as a stream unto thee, which I believe distance 
of place or length of time cannot wear out nor stop. Mayst 
thou feel my brotherly love to thee beyond what my fear can 
express. I earnestly desire the Lord to accompany thee 
with his power and presence in all thy undertakings, and to 
make thee more and more instrumental in his hands. Dear 
friend ! remember us and the little flock in this wilderness, 
when thou art far from us, in thy nearest approaches to the 
Lord ; and I desire thee to mind my love to all Friends in 
England that may inquire respecting me. 

I remain thy friend and brother, 

Griffith Owen." 



"Maryland, Clift, the 11th mo. 1699. 

Dear William Ellis, 

Whom I dearly love in the Truth, my true 
love salutes thee, desiring these may find thee well, as 
through mercy they leave us. Dear friend, the many blessed 
opportunities we have had together are livingly in my re- 
membrance, and blessed be God whose mercy and favours 
are great to this wilderness country, he has not left us 
without sending his servants amongst us to sound forth his 
blessed Truth, and to stir up his seed, which he hath sown 
in the hearts of a remnant here, which has many times been 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 125 

oppressed and kept down through the wiles of the enemy of 
our souls; but which hath been raised and stirred up 
through the testimonies of his dear servants whom he hath 
been pleased to send amongst us ; praises and honour and 
thanksgiving be to his great and holy Name for ever, saith 
my soul ! Dear friend, forget me not in thy most secret 
supplication to Almighty God, that my faith may be 
strengthened, and that I may be valiant for the Truth, 
which he has been pleased to reveal unto me ; for alas ! 
dear William, what are we -without we receive strength and 
ability from him ? — nothing but poor dust and ashes, not 
able of ourselves to speak a good word or think a good 
thought. My hearty prayer to God for thee is, that he may 
be with thee, and bless thy testimony and seal it down on 
the hearts of many sons and daughters. Our dear friends, 
Roger Gill and Thomas Story, as also dear Aaron Atkinson, 
were at our Yearly Meeting, where they had brave service 
for the Lord. The same wrangling priest that Aaron met 
with, came also to that meeting and openly opposed ; but he 
was so handled by Thomas Story, that I presume he repented 
coming there; it was of good service, for Thomas laid 
him open to the people, abundance of his hearers being 
there, who went away well satisfied. My dear friend, I have 
this word of comfort to tell thee, Truth prospers, and people 
begin to see what the priests are. We are all quiet and 
still, and in true unity one with another. Aaron is gone 
back again to the north, not being yet clear of those parts ; 
he expects it will be the 8th or 9th month before he leaves 
America. Dear William, I desire to hear from thee as 
opportunity may present. I shall not add, but mine and my 
wife's true love to thee and all Friends, is the conclusion of 

Thy loving and sincere fiiend, 

Abraham Johns. " 



126 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

Anthony Morris, the writer of the following letter, settled 
at Burlington, in West Jersey, about 1680 : he afterwards 
removed to Philadelphia : he was a serviceable man as a 
preacher among the Quakers, and in various other respects 
both of a public and private nature : he died in 1721. — See 
Proud's History of Pennsylvania, Yol. II. page 146. 

"Philadelphia, the ]2th of 4th mo. 1699. 
Dear William Ellis ; 

I have often been troubled in my mind when 
the thoughts of thy going from us have come into my 
remembrance, because that I had not the opportunity of 
taking my leave of thee in a solemn manner, considering 
how nearly my spirit was united to thee, so that I can truly 
say, I loved and do love thee in the Lord ; and through the 
operation of his Spirit thou wert made serviceable to me ; so 
dear William, excuse my neglect, for I came but a few 
minutes after thou wast gone. Now I desire thee to pray 
for me, that I may be kept and preserved faithful to the 
Lord, for according to my weak abilities I have often done 
the same for thee since thy departure from us. I send this 
by my very good friend, Joseph Kirkbride, whom I hope 
the Lord will attend with his presence, and keep him near 
to Himself and within his own protection ; and if it be his 
good pleasure return him safe to his family, as I hope thou 
art gotten to thine. With the salutation of mine and my 
wife's dear love to thee and thy dear wife, I rest, and sub- 
scribe myself, in the Truth that changes not, 
Thy real friend, 

Anthony Morris." 

Samuel Carpenter, the writer of the following letter, was 
one of the early settlers in Pennsylvania : he became one of 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 127 

the most considerable traders in that Province, in which he 
also filled the office of Treasurer : his great abilities, com- 
bined with a benevolent and active disposition, rendered him 
a useful and valuable member of civil and religious society ; 
and he appears to have been highly esteemed among the 
Quakers, to whom he belonged. — See Proud' s History of 
Pennsylvania, Yol. II. page 60. 

"Philadelphia, the 17th of the 4th mo. 1699. 

Dear "William Ellts, 

Although I have little to write, I was not 
willing to let this opportunity slip without giving thee a few 
lines to signify mine and my wife's dear love to thee and 
thine, acknowledging thine to us, and thy tenderness towards 
us and ours ; hoping that the Lord will reward thee with 
peace in thy bosom, for thy labour of love in this remote 
land, with others of the Lord's faithful servants and mes- 
sengers, who have left all that was near and dear to them, 
in obedience to his requirings, and in love to the souls of 
people, that Truth and righteousness may increase and spread 
over the earth, and the Lord's great name may be honoured. 
~Now it having pleased God to send his messengers to us, 
from time to time, his living power and presence hath at- 
tended their ministry and services, so that many can say, 
surely the Lord has been gracious to us, a lost people, and 
accounted little of by our brethren, being scattered in this 
remote wilderness ; but blessed be the Lord our God, who 
hath so graciously visited us by his good Spirit within 
us, and by his faithful servants, who have been made in- 
strumental in his hand, and by his power, to reach our 
hearts, so that many have been comforted, confirmed, and 
settled in the Truth. "What remains on our part, but that 
we walk humbly before the Lord all our days, that his love 



128 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

and the labour of his servants may not be bestowed on us in 
vain ? Our dear friends Eoger Gill and Thomas Story are 
lately come by way of Virginia and Maryland, and are 
hastening towards New England, in hope to return to our 
Yearly Meeting. Dear Aaron is returned to Chester county; 
whether he go past us or not when he returns, I yet know 
not. This is intended to be sent by our dear friend Joseph 
Kirkbride, who is gone down towards the ship ; they are to 
be at Salem to-morrow, and take their departure from Elsin- 
borough. My very dear love to Walter Fawcitt, and Friends 
that have laboured amongst us. I should be glad of a few 
lines from thee, as opportunity and freedom offer. We were 
glad of thine from Maryland. Friends are generally in 
health, and I know the love of many is to thee ; so con- 
cludes thy real friend, 

Samuel Carpenter." 

Eichard Gove, who is mentioned in the following letter, 
resided in Philadelphia : in the latter part of his life he 
accompanied Thomas Chalkley on a religious visit to England, 
having also been his companion in similar services in the 
West Indies, Ireland and Scotland : he died at Uxbridge, 
near London, in 1710 ; and is described by Thomas Chalkley 
as an inoffensive, loving Friend, whose testimony was sound, 
serviceable and convincing. — See Thomas Chalkley's Journal, 
Ed. 1818, page 102. 

"Maryland, the 25th of the 4th mo. 1699. 

Dear William Ellis, 

Whom I truly love in the Truth ; the many 
comfortable opportunities and heavenly visitations that we 
have enjoyed together, both by sea and land, is often upon 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 129 

my mind ; and my soul is at this time made glad in the 
living remembrance of it. We had a very glorious Yearly 
Meeting; the Lord's heavenly power was over all, and 
Friends were greatly comforted and strengthened. I com- 
municated to the meeting what thou left in charge with me, 
concerning a certificate to be sent to your Quarterly Meeting, 
which was as readily granted as desired ; the which I here 
enclose thee. Dear Aaron Atkinson came from New England, 
Griffith Owen and Eichard Gove from Pennsylvania, and 
Roger Gill and Thomas Story from Virginia, to attend our 
Yearly Meeting, where they had indeed good service for the 
Truth. The priest came and contended openly in the 
meeting ; but Truth was over him, and his folly and wicked- 
ness were manifested to his shame, among some of the chief 
of his own people. I am in some haste, being straitened for 
time; the ship is just under sail, so that at present I must 
conclude, and tell thee that some lines from thee will be 
very acceptable to 

Thy Mend and brother in the Truth, 

Richard Johns. 



William Ellis returned from America to England in the 
early part of 1699. The following letter, expressive of the 
yearnings of an emigrant over the children of those to whom 
he had been united in religious fellowship in his native land, 
was entrusted to William Ellis for circulation. 

A few Lines to the Offspring of Believing Parents in Old 
England. 

Dear and well-beloved friends in the land of our nativity ; 
my hearty desire and prayer to God is for you all, and 
mostly for a young generation, the children of believing 



130 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

parents, that it may please the Lord to raise up a remnant 
to stand up in the place of our fathers in Christ, who have 
stood in the gap and borne the burden in the heat of the 
day, and left us good examples ; who, many of them, are 
gone and going off the stage of this world, to the ever- 
lasting rest prepared for the righteous. And dear friends, 
you are often in our remembrance, when our hearts are 
engaged to praise the Lord for the prosperity of his Truth ; 
and we desire your prayers for us, that it may please 
God to preserve and guide us in that unchangeable 
way, till we meet at the haven of rest, where all the 
righteous rejoice together for ever. The Lord's work pros- 
pers in this wilderness land, and many young people are 
concerned for the glory of God and the prosperity of his 
Truth, that his great Name may not be evil spoken of 
amongst the heathen; and I should be glad if it would 
please the Lord to raise up many more worthies to visit 
his seed in these countries. 

John Cowgill. 

Prom my house in Middleton, in 

the County of Bucks, in Penn- ■ 

sylvania, the 9th of the 1st 
month, 1699. 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 131 



CHAPTEE X. 

Letters from William Ellis to Theodore Eccleston, William Edmundson, 
Richard Johns. Notice of John Haydock. Letter to Samuel Gal- 
loway and others ; — to William Ellis from Gilbert Thompson. 
Notice of Richard Hill. Letters from John Tomkins, and William 
Edmundson. 

The letters in this chapter relate chiefly to the services 
of William Ellis in America, and to his return from thence. 
They also contain much excellent counsel. 

" To Theodore Eccleston. 

Airton, the 3rd of the 5th mo. 1699. 
Kind Emend ! 

This with good wishes for the increase of peace 
and love amongst the brethren, comes to let thee know, that 
I got well to York, and met with my wife, and many good 
Eriends from divers other parts, as well as our own county ; 
and a great meeting there was, and love, peace, lowliness, 
and submission one to another, seem to increase and abound 
amongst Eriends. Eriends seem to be more closely united 
thau in some times past ; and Church discipline goes on well, 
and a great number of young Eriends come up in public 
testimony ; and it seems in my eye, as though there is to 
be a new plantation here, or as though Lebanon should 
bring forth new stems again from the old roots. And I 
pray God Almighty, that all such as are overseers of this 

k2 



132 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

forest, where the goodly cedars are to grow, may daily 
walk there with their sharp axe; and that every super- 
fluous branch may be so cut off as that the tree shall 
take no harm in the place where it is cut; but that all 
may be truly pruned and dressed, and that the locusts and 
caterpillars, and earth-worms, may be taken away, so that 
sap may spring from the root into every branch ; then both 
green leaves and good fruit will grow, and the sound of the 
going of the Lord will be heard there, as the wind among 
the mulberry trees. I cannot enlarge, yet thou knowest 
what I mean. Now as to the books that are to be sent to 
New England, I was too short about them, but thou mayst 
know, that I thought three of George Pox's Journals, and 
divided thus : to Hampton Monthly Meeting, one ; to Salem 
Monthly Meeting, one ; to Scituate and Sandwich Monthly 
Meetings, one ; and order Friends, that the books go to and 
fro, that all may have the benefit thereof ; and John Tomkins's 
book, entitled " The Harmony of the Old and New Testa- 
ments," would be of great service thereaway, as they show 
to the world that we own the Scriptures ; for the dark 
Presbyterian priests labour to persuade the people that we 
do not. Pray follow this thing closely until it be perfected ; 
in so doing thou wilt ease my mind. My hearty desire is, 
that peace and love may abound amongst you, and that you 
may go on closely together, to put away the cursed thing 
out of the camp of God : and that nobody run one against 
another, but all against that which is naught ; and that as 
fathers nourish their only sons, whom they intend to possess 
their inheritance when they are gone, so ancient Priends 
may show kindness and true respect to the young; and 
young men as sons, show due respect to such as were in the 
Truth before them, and rule well, not by constraint only 
but of a willing mind. God Almighty did not call us 
from the ends of the earth, where the devil had his walk, 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 133 

that we should be broken in pieces again, either by the 
riches or the glory of the world, nor that the glory that 
is in the Church should be tarnished ; therefore with all 
speed, labour to quench all heats, and keep thou thy bucket 
always full of water to quench them with ; and let every- 
body be afraid to think or speak hardly one of another ; it 
will not be as it should be till it be so ; for by thinking and 
speaking hardly of others, we may justly provoke the Great 
God to think of our past doings, and to bring them to our 
remembrance, in a way which will not be to our gladness. 
As thou hast always taken patiently what I have written to 
thee, so do thou this ; for it is the remainder, or part of 
what I spoke to thee on the morning that I left the city. 
Such hath been my trouble, at times, since my return, that 
I could hardly keep it out of my mind ; for there had like 
to have been sad work, before I got here ; but the Lord 
who delights to replenish Zion with peace, and to give pros- 
perity upon her borders, hath helped, and things are now 
settled ; and I am greatly glad thereof. My wife tells me 
of thy kindness to her, and we together acknowledge it. 
With true love to thee and thine, and to Eriends, 

I remain thy real friend, 

¥m. Ellis." 

u To William Edmundson. 

Airton, the 3rd of the 5th mo. 1699. 
Dear and much-esteemed Eriend ; 

After the remembrance of my unfeigned love 
to thee, by this know, that 1 thought it fit to give thee an 
account of the affairs of Eriends beyond the seas. After we 
landed in Maryland, we travelled into Virginia and Carolina, 
where we found several ancient Eriends alive, as James HilFs 
widow and Erancis Tomes, who inquired respecting thee j 



134 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OE 

and it filled their hearts with tenderness to hear thou wast 
yet alive, and able to labour to promote the Truth. Many 
young people there are, and great brokenness amongst them : 
also several negroes come amongst Friends at times ; and 
the Lord's hand is at work on them, and many are lately 
convinced there. About Chucatuch there are many Friends ; 
and several are under exercise that Truth may increase ; but 
there is too much indifference amongst some. We had hard 
exercises thereaway, but the Lord helped us greatly. One 
Thomas Paidge is a public minister there, and in my sense 
Truth increases in him. There is a convincement in those 
countries. Many ancient Friends are dead in Maryland, yet 
there are still good serviceable Friends left, if too much riches 
do not hurt them, and too much finery the young people. 
Friends are under exercise to bring things to the standard 
that tries all things. In Pennsylvania things are indifferent 
well, and Truth prospers, and that trouble which George 
Keith and his party made, hath turned to the profit of true- 
hearted Friends. The Lord blessed my travels greatly 
amongst them ; disciples increase ; it is thus also in most 
parts of West Jersey, there is little in East Jersey, only at 
Shrewsbury ; George Keith hath mostly spoiled the rest, also 
at New York ; but Friends have got a meeting-house newly 
built up : William Bickley and John Rodman are there. In 
Long Island there is an increase, many being convinced 
about Flushing. John Bond's son is a public preacher, and 
the Lord's goodness is to that family. Banters grow weaker 
than they were. We had good service as we passed by land 
towards Rhode Island : the Lord's goodness is to those parts. 
The Lord made my service prosperous in Rhode Island ; but 
I had hard exercise at times : a good people there is, but 
they have been too much overruled by some that were too 
indifferent; but as my understanding was opened, so I 
laboured, and Truth broke through, and Friends brought 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 135 

judgment over things that had been amiss, in the manage- 
ment of their affairs, and love greatly increased among old 
and young ; and the Lord's goodness filled our hearts at 
parting. I thought it was worth my labour, if I had gone 
from England on purpose only for that. New England hath 
been in a low condition ; but in my sense, the Lord is about 
to break forth upon Eriends, and in divers places several are 
convinced, as about Hampton, Salem, Scituate, Sandwich, 
Spicam, and Portsmouth. There is little exercise in black 
Boston, yet a seed remains, and as it was in my mind to see 
Eriends thereaway, so it was in my mind to labour with the 
ability I had day by day ; and many straits I was in, and 
great need I saw I had both of power to carry me through, 
and of wisdom from God, to guide my tongue ; and under 
the sense of my need of these things, I was brought very 
low, and into great straits ; for I thought I had often seen 
the mad work that men had made, who put their wits to 
work when the Lord did not answer their desires. But 
though it was the Lord's pleasure to deal thus with me, yet 
I kept my dependence more upon him; and in needful 
times he did eminently appear in life and wisdom ; and when 
in deep engagements with the power of darkness, he brought 
me off with victory, his great power triumphing and having 
greatly prevailed. Thus was my travel mostly from one 
place to another, with great fear, lest when I was somewhat 
eased, I should say, Well done, to myself; also I had much 
weakness of body mostly through my travels, yet it is the 
crown of all my comfort, that that Arm which first reached 
my heart, did and doth, as it is joined with, help to this day ; 
and inexpressible comfort hath filled my heart at my return 
to my own country again. Many Eriends inquired of thy 
welfare, and were glad to hear of thy constancy to the Truth 
in thy old age. Where I thought it might be of service, I 
spoke of the Lord's great goodness to your nation ; and it 



136 LIFE AND COKEESPONDENCE OF 

gladdened faithful Friends to hear of it, and especially those 
of your own country. I had thought to have got to the 
Yearly Meeting at London, but cross winds hindered. I 
stayed not long there ; but it may be I may go again, for 
some things are in my mind to tell Friends of, that may help 
forward the work of Truth. I came to York at the time of 
the Yearly Meeting ; and a great meeting it was ; and great 
peace and love, and condescension for good there was one 
to another ; and the work of reformation in many hearts, 
houses and habits goes on ; and many are raised up of late 
both into public service, and to help forward good rule and 
order, — many that I hope will be mighty men for God, if 
humility be kept to. This is needful to be preached amongst 
us now-a-days. Many Friends think and speak often of 
thee hereaway, and bless Almighty God that cast thy lot 
amongst us. And when I considered, and saw things work 
to my content, I said in myself, that the child yet unborn 
will have cause to bless the Lord on account of those 
visits. Now as to my wife, she hath been well borne up, 
and things have answered as to the outward; she hath 
answered her own part and mine too in a great measure ; 
and the Lord hath taken in hand to be master amongst my 
servants ; so that in my sense, they much more fear the 
Almighty than when I left them. I saw some Epistles in 
London ; I wish we could have a hundred or two of them in 
our parts ; if they be not free I would pay for them myself. 
If it seem good to thee thou mayst get a friend to draw two 
copies of this letter, and send one to Joseph Pike and Samuel 
Eandal, and the other to Amos Strettel. It would be accept- 
able hereaway to have a few lines from thee ; also if thou 
find anything in thy mind that might be of service to us, write 
to me or to any one else thou knowest, and I think we 
will do our best to answer thy will, in putting in practice 
the doing part. One thing more I think good to let thee 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 137 

know, that we have got a meeting of ministering Friends 
once a quarter, in Settle Monthly Meeting, and being but 
young in such weighty affairs, I know good, sound Friends' 
company would be very acceptable to us whether in person 
or by Epistle. That thou think often of us, and pray for 
our safety, is the earnest desire of him who intends, by 
God's help, to labour in my measure to promote peace and 
Truth in my day; and to live nearer the mark than I 
have done to this time. My wife's dear love is to thee, 
and she is cheerful. Loose professors of Truth have warred 
sore with her ; but her arm is made strong by the Truth, 
to contend for it, for which my heart is melted with thank- 
fulness to God, that hath showed such great mercy to us. 
I have written a deal, but could not easily compress it 
into less compass, else I would ; and yet I have given but 
hints of things. So with true love to thee, thy wife, and 
all Friends where thou thinkest fit, 

I remain thy truly loving friend, 

Wm. Ellis." 

John Haydock, who is mentioned in the following letter, 
was born in the parish of Standish, in Lancashire, in 1640. 
He joined the Society of Friends in 1667, and a few months 
after was committed to Lancaster Castle, a prisoner for the 
testimony of a good conscience : here he was detained four 
months. Soon after his release he received a gift in the 
ministry, in the exercise of which he travelled much in 
Great Britain, Ireland and America. He suffered much 
persecution, with spoiling of goods and imprisonments for 
righteousness' sake, and died a prisoner in Lancaster Castle, 
for his testimony to the Truth, in 1719, aged 79 years, 
having been a minister about fifty years. — See Piety Pro- 
moted, Part YII. 



138 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

"ToBichard Johns. 

" Airton, the 31st of the 5th mo. 1699. 

Dear Friend, 

Whom I truly love for the Truth's sake ; my 
true love is to thee and thine. As God Almighty in mercy 
hath blessed thee, in basket and in store, and hath opened 
thy heart to serve his servants with a willing mind, my soul 
desires that in like manner his goodness may come upon thy 
posterity. Likewise I know that God hath blessed thee 
with a good understanding, and sound judgment, and hath 
opened thy eyes to see a comeliness in his Truth ; and 
thou seest in a good degree what makes for the honour of 
it, and what makes against it. Now my hearty desires are, 
that thou mayst arise like a man of war, to help the weak 
and the feeble minded, and to draw water for the thirsty, and 
to drive out all that would hinder the arising of living water 
in the Church of Christ. I know thou art a man spirited for 
such a work, and am persuaded that the Lord will bless thy 
endeavours ; for I know it is God's mind it should be so, 
that nought should abide that hurts in any member of the 
body. I fell short of the meeting at London, but got to York 
to the Yearly Meeting, and account was given of great reforma- 
tion mostly through the county, in many things ; and of many 
being raised up lately to publish the Truth, and the Truth 
hath shaken the whole county in general; the Lord go 
on says my soul. Stir about now and then, and see how 
Friends meet on week-days ; and when thy spirit is full of 
life and sweetness, if thou drop a word or two amongst 
Friends, I do think it will be to profit. Stephen of old 
did so, though his office was to take care of widows ; and 
if such as be public ministers stir about from one place 
to another, and drop a few words in the sense of life, it 
will help to strengthen them that may be weak, and to com- 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 139 

fort the mourners. My true love to Friends beyond the 
Bay ; I wish that love and charity may abound amongst 
them ; tell them that although I am here, my thoughts 
are running to and fro amongst you and them. Help 
forward the good work that is begun : put Friends in 
mind to visit John Lewis's meeting now and then. I 
was with John Haydock lately, and he was glad to hear 
of thee and of thy welfare. I hope thou wilt not be offended 
with my thus writing ; thou knowest it is not for self-praise. 
This with my true love to thee and thine, and all Friends 

evervwhere where thou comest : 

■/ * 

I rest thy real Friend, 

Wm. Ellis/' 



To Samuel Galloway, Solomon Sparrow, William Eix, 
Samuel Thomas, &c. 

" Airton, the last of the 5th mo. 1699. 

Dear Friends ; 

After my dear love to you and yours, know 
that I got well home, and I find things every way well. 
Where Friends keep out of the earth, and abide in the love 
of God, they go forward and Truth prevails. Know hereby 
that I cannot forget you, though I am afar off, but I pray for 
your welfare, and that Truth may prevail and gain ground 
amonst you ; and in order thereunto I would give a word of 
counsel unto you. Inasmuch as many ancients are gone to 
sleep with their fathers, and the oversight of the church in 
those parts is likely to fall upon you, with others of your 
brethren, and God hath given you a large portion of Ins 
Spirit, which opened your understandings to discern things, 
and hath given you judgment to divide between the precious 



140 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OE 

and the vile, I beseech you with all diligence, put your 
hands to the work, in the Name of the Lord ; whatsoever is 
against the Truth in the heart or house, or in traffic, spare not 
to advise against it, and let it be done away ; and my desire 
is, that your brethren may arise with you to the work of the 
Lord ; and when you divide between the precious and the 
vile, let it be with the Word of the Lord, the sword of the 
Spirit ; that sword which is of tried mettle, whose edge 
cannot be blunted ; nothing it can meet with shall be too 
hard for it, and it is very piercing. Those valiants of 
old time who handled this sword, gave this testimony of 
it, that it was quick and powerful, and sharper than any 
two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of 
soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and it is a 
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart ; this is 
the weapon of the saints' warfare ; let us see that by the 
power and operation of this Word, our own hearts and 
houses be cleansed ; then will you be able to answer the 
mind of the Lord in his will concerning others. By this 
Word, true judgment will be laid to the line, and righteous- 
ness to the plummet, and judgment will be executed upon 
all that is contrary to the will of God ; even upon those evils 
also winch may be covered with a specious pretence. Re- 
member how Samuel of old time hewed Agag in pieces 
before the Lord in Gilgal. Dear Friends, go on in the 
Name of the Lord, and do his work faithfully, preferring 
that to your own profit and advantage in this world. 
What does it signify, if because of your attending upon 
the service of God you do not grow so rich in this world 
as some of your neighbours, who mind only earthly things, 
or if you cannot lay up such earthly treasure for your 
posterity as many others do. Let me put you in mind, 
that you have the word of our great Master for it, That 
every one of you that forsaketh, or that hath forsaken, 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 141 

houses, or brethren, or sisters, or fathers, or mothers, or 
wife, or children, or lands for his Name's sake, shall 
receive an hundred fold in this world, and shall inherit 
everlasting life. Besides the Lord hath said, Jer. xlix. 
11. "Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them 
alive, and let thy widows trust in me." Is not this 
encouragement enough to all to trust in the Lord? 
Take heed and watch against that spirit that would lead 
into a foolish pity, saying, spare this thing and spare that 
thing, and be tender to all, though it be to that which 
displeaseth God. I never saw that spirit work for the 
Truth; therefore I advise you, keep judgment, and in 
true love, work closely for the Truth ; and whatever is 
against the Truth indulge it not ; and such as excuse them- 
selves, that they see no evil in things that are evil in 
themselves, labour to convince of their ignorance, in the 
spirit and love of our God, that they may be helped 
out of the snare of the enemy. And those who are tender 
and well-minded, I beseech them, when they come to see 
things are not right, to submit, and lay those things aside, 
for Truth's sake, and for the sake of that precious unity 
that is in high esteem in the eyes of a remnant. And, 
dear Friends, labour as true watchmen, that all your meet- 
ings be kept in the Name and Power of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, and that all dulness, dryness, and that which tends 
to death and bondage, may be absolutely banished out 
of your assemblies, and that the sweetness of life may 
arise and come up in your assemblies, and that all uncomely 
behaviour in meetings may be testified against in the love 
of God; and some of you now and then step down to 
Potomack, and sit amongst that poor people there; you 
may comfort their hearts even if not a word be spoken to 
them; and run over to the Bay now and then, some- 
times one and sometimes another of you, and take some 



142 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

of your public-friends with you; and if you visit them 
from meeting to meeting, I believe the Lord will accept 
this service at your hands, and will say unto your souls, 
Well done ! and before you leave this world, you may 
come to see the travail of your souls, and be satisfied in 
the goodness of the Lord towards his people. This is 
the real desire of your friend. My dear love to all Friends 
where I have travelled; and if you think meet to let 
them see this, you have my consent. 

This is from your real friend, 

Wm. Ellis." 



"Sankey, the 3rd of the 6th mo. 1699. 
Dearly beloved Friend, Wm. Ellis, 

I gladly received thine, with the enclosed to 
William Edmundson, which I purpose to transcribe, and 
take care to send it away ; I find no superfluous compliment 
in it : I seldom or never find thee err on that hand. The 
love I now feel in my heart towards thee, and that rooted 
esteem which hath had a bottom, these many years, and 
lessens not, can afford thee this compliment; that the 
remembrance of thee tenders my heart now, and at some 
other times ; and thy courage for the Truth, and success 
therein, helps my droopings now and then ; for I must con- 
fess, though the Lord be gracious, and endues me with 
understanding, yet a doubting, weakly spirit attends me, to 
my exercise : it makes me conclude that men of courage 
have a special advantage, and lay more fast hold on faith, 
and thereby gain victory and keep a good conscience, more 
than such as I do. I would willingly be content with my 
station, and sometimes feel desires to answer Truth in my 
capacity, and have sometimes hope, that tribulation may 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 143 

work patience, and patience experience, and experience hope. 
I would have thee bear this simple expression, in which I 
magnify not man, but the Lord, as some formerly magnified 
God in Paul ; that in my thoughts thou growest mightily, 
settest thy candle on a candlestick, and excellest iu many 
things most of thy brethren. Proceed, and let nothing 
hinder thee, and though thou mayst find the courage of a 
Hon in thy engagements, yet remember to exercise matters 
in the lamb's nature ; because it is the Lamb must have the 
victory ; and sometimes when others may screw a matter as 
high as can well be borne, exercise thou tenderness, patience 
and forbearance, and that will cross the expectation of some, 
who wait for thy shooting of darts, because the Lord hath 
made thee strong in battle. I hope ere long we shall see 
thee and thy good wife here, and be comforted in your 
company. In the mean time my constant true love is 
remembered, and in it I remain thine. My wife's love is 
to you both, 

Gilbert Thompson. - " 



Richard Hill, who is mentioned in the following letter, 
was a native of Maryland, and a useful member of the 
Society of Priends : he settled in Philadelphia, and was 
twenty-five years a member of the Governor's Council, 
and several times Speaker of the Assembly : he also filled 
the office of Commissioner of Property, and was, for the 
last ten years of his life, one of the Provincial Judges. 
Proud in his History of Pennsylvania, Yol. I. page 473, 
says respecting him, " His sound judgment, his great esteem 
for the English constitution and laws, his tenderness for 
the liberty of the subject, and his zeal for preserving the 
reputable order established in his own religious community, 
with his great generosity to proper objects, qualified him for 



144 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

the greatest services in every station in which he was engaged, 
and rendered him of very great and uncommon value in the 
place where he lived." 

"London, the 9th of the 6th mo. 1699. 

Dear Friend, Wm. Ellis ; 

T received thine dated the last of the last month, 
and am glad I can serve thee ; therefore have, according to 
thy desire, transcribed thy Epistle to Maryland, with what 
alterations I saw meet, as thou desiredst me. I hope it will 
answer thy sense, and the drift of thy spirit : I took care 
therein, even in those places where I have enlarged. If 
I have offended thee, or pleased thee, let me have a few lines 
from thee. I have put thy Epistle into the care of Richard 
Hill, as advised in thine. I am sorry for the. present 
exercise thou art under in respect to what thou writest. I 
hope Providence will order it for thy ease, and the safety of 
thy person, as well as the reputation of the Truth, which I 
believe thou hast regard to above all. What else I can be ser- 
viceable to thee in, thou mayst freely require it of me. This 
day at our Morning Meeting, our dear friend, William Penn, 
took his leave of the brethren ; he leaves this city the latter 
end of this week. Indeed the glory and power of the Lord 
covered our assembly, which united the souls of the brethren 
together, as were the souls of Jonathan and David ; and the 
faithful were bound up together in the bundle of the living. 
In much tears, love and comfort, we enjoyed the presence of 
the Lord ; and in this were our supplications put up one for 
another. A season that if thou hadst been present, would 
have comforted thy heart! and I believe it will not be easily 
forgotten by us. It was an evident visitation from God, in 
great love to us : the Lord shall have the praise, it was his 
doing. Our dear friend, William Penn, intends to take 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 145 

shipping at Southampton,, on the next Second- day come a 
week, for Pennsylvania. With mine and my dear wife's 
dear love to you both. 

I am, dear friend, thy real friend and brother, 

John Tomkins." 



"Dublin, the 22nd of the 6th mo. 1699. 

Dear \Ym. Ellis ; 

I received thine, and am very glad to hear of 
thy prosperous service for the blessed Truth, and thy safe 
return ; thou and thy service in those remote parts have been 
often under my serious consideration since thou took that 
journey, with fervent prayers for thy well-doing, and the bless- 
ing of the Lord on thy labour of love ; and I should have been 
more glad if thou couldst have given me a good account 
of thy service, Truth's prosperity, and Friends' steadfastness 
in it, in the Caribbee Islands, Jamaica, and the Bermudas, 
where I had successful service for the Lord, that may not be 
easily forgotten. Friends have been visited this many years 
with great sickness, and many of them removed, and the rem- 
nant that is left wants visiting ; and very few have been with 
them in these times of their great affliction. My service was 
great there ; having been three times there ; and I hope I left 
them in a prosperous and flourishing state, through the good 
hand of God that was with me, and made things prosper on 
many accounts in the Lord's service. But I am now too 
old for such journeys, so am the more concerned for them. 
Truth's affairs in this nation prosper on all accounts, and 
things in general are well amongst Friends ; the glory of 
the Lord shines forth more and more ; and his irresistible 
arm is with us in his work and in the service of this great 
and glorious day of the restoration of all things into their 

L 



146 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

proper places, use and service, as they were created and 
ordained by the great and wise Creator, and settled in 
harmony, before disorder got in. This blessed work of a 
thorough reformation goes on, the Lord's power carrying 
over all ; and in his blessed Seed is counsel and wisdom, and 
it gives dominion : his great Name is to be reverenced, 
praised and magnified for ever and ever. I gave thy letter 
to Amos Strettel, who will take care to send a copy as thou 
directed ; and I ordered him to send thee some of those 
Epistles thou speakest of, with some other papers that may 
be serviceable, and I know will be acceptable to some 
amongst you, that are concerned for the propagating of close 
Gospel order on a sound and right bottom. I am very well 
through the mercies of the Lord, who is large in mercy to 
me on all accounts, and lengthens out his mercies as he 
lengthens out the days of my pilgrimage. I am thus far on 
my journey to the north, to visit Friends, accompanied by 
George Eook and some others ; and intend to be at their 
Province Meeting this week, and so on in Truth's service, as 
the Lord opens our way and gives ability. Mind my love 
to thy wife and Friends about you, to Thomas Aldam, and 
Thomas Thompson, when thou seest them, and to all honest, 
true-hearted Friends that desire to hear of me. So with my 
love to thee, in the fellowship of the Gospel of our Lord and 
Saviour Jesus Christ; 

I am thy ancient friend and brother, 

Wm. Edmundson." 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 147 



CHAPTEE XI. 

Yellow Fever. Notices of Thomas Duckett and Thomas Musgrave. 
Letteis from Nicholas Wain and William Fishbourn. Notice of 
Roger Gill and his death. Letter from Samuel Carpenter. Notice 
of Edward Shippen. Letter from Edward Shippen. John Slack 
to Alice Ellis. Letters from John Tomkins and Theodore Eccleston. 
Notice of John Wynn. Testimony of William Ellis respecting John 
Wynn. 

Several of the letters in this chapter describe the ravages 
of the Yellow Eever, in one of its most formidable attacks 
upon the city of Philadelphia. The sympathy excited 
toward the afflicted and bereaved, and the solemn im- 
pressions produced by this visitation, are dwelt upon in 
a manner which claims the serious attention of the reader. 
Thomas Duckett, who was among the number that died of 
this disease, visited England and Ireland as a minister in 
1694. — Thomas Musgrave had visited America as a minister 
from Yorkshire in 1694 : he appears now to have been going 
out as an emigrant, and to have died on the passage along 
with many more, from the unhealthy state of a crowded ship. 

"Philadelphia, the 22nd of the 7th mo. 1699. 

Dear Friend, Wm. Ellis; 

My dear love in the unchangeable Truth is 
unto thee and thy dear wife; for in that doth my soul 
salute you, hoping you are in good health, as, blessed be the 
Lord ! I, my wife and family are at this present time. This 

l 2 



148 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

is a great mercy from the hand of the Lord ; for since thou 
left these parts, we have met with great exercises, and a 
great mortality hath happened in the town of Philadelphia, 
and some in the country. We may truly say, it is an 
exercising time, — a time to drive many home to consider 
their standing, and upon what foundation they are bail ding, 
and what they are building upon the Foundation ; whether 
it be that which will abide the fire, yea or nay ; for of a 
truth, the Lord is trying his people, and it is a day of 
humbling. Bat may we not honestly say as Job said, 
" Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we 
not receive evil ?" for as it is written, "■ When the judg- 
ments of the Lord are in the earth, the inhabitants of the 
world will learn righteousness." So my dear friend, I am 
willing to give thee a short hint of things, and who they are 
that have laid down their bodies, and of those persons we had 
great love for ; our dear friends, Esther Hoskins, Thomas 
Duckett, James Fox, Margaret Beardsley, her daughter Mary 
Gray, George Fox, Thomas Smyth and his wife and son and 
son-in-law, William Harwood, William Alaway, and several 
others that I name not. My dear brother-in-law, James 
Dilworth is dead, and was buried the First-day before our 
Yearly Meeting; Charles Sanders and Stephen Coleman, 
and a great number of the world's people also. Now, my 
friend, as touching our Yearly Meeting, it was but small, by 
reason of the sickness ; but we may truly say the Lord our 
God made up our want ; for his living power and sweet 
refreshing presence was with us, to the comfort of his, — 
whose hearts are true to him. He is the same that ever he 
was, and as he was good to his Israel in days past, so we 
may say, he is good to his Israel in this very day ; blessed 
be his holy Name for ever and for evermore ! Our dear 
friends, Aaron Atkinson, Thomas Story and Roger Gill, were 
with us, who were of good service there. Our dear friend 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 119 

Aaron being very weak by reason of his sickness, was but 
little with ns. He was with ns the Fifth- day following 
our Yearly Meeting, and I do believe he cleared himself 
very well, to the satisfaction of several, if not all, that 
were then present. Now, dear William, I seeing a letter 
that came from thee from London, can truly say I was 
right glad, when I heard it read, in which thou remem- 
berest thy love to me, which I kindly accept. My dear 
love is unto thee and thy wife once more. I desire thee 
to remember my love to all Friends that may inquire of 
me, or to whom thou thinkest fit. My dear wife desires 
to have her love remembered to thy wife; and we were 
right glad when we heard thy wife was well. My dear 
love to my sister, Ann Dilworth, if thou seest her, and 
let her know that her dear children are well. My son 
Richard desires to have his kind love to thee and to thy 
wife, though unknown, and to his aunt Ann Dilworth; 
arid I desire thee to remember my love to all our relations 
and friends in Bolland. Sixty passengers died out of that 
ship which came from Liverpool, some of them were 
Thomas Musgrave, Thomas Wilson, Henry Michel, Eobert 
Driver, and Grace Driver, but Grace died after she came 
here. This from 

Thy friend and brother, 

Nicholas Waln." 

Eoger Gill, whose death is noticed in the following letters, 
was from London, where he joined Friends about 1683. 
While on a religious visit to America, in company with 
Thomas Story from Cumberland, he was brought into great 
sympathy with those afflicted with the Yellow Fever in 
Philadelphia ; and he prayed fervently that the Lord would 
stay his hand, and that he would, if it pleased Him, accept 
his life for the people. Soon after this Eoger Gill fell sick, 



150 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

and in a few days he died, in great peace, aged 34 years ; 
and it was observed that few died of the disease afterwards. — 
See Thomas Story's Journal, and Piety Promoted, Part III. 

"Philadelphia, the 27th of the 8th mo. 1699. 

Dear Priend, Wm. Ellis ; 

These come with the salutation of my dear 
love to thee, trusting this may find thee well at home ; and 
I can truly say I am glad in the remembrance of thee. I 
hope thou mayst find opportunity to let me hear from thee. 
Through mercy I am now indifferent well, though I have 
lately been dangerously ill of a distemper that has been very 
violent amongst us at this place, and has carried off several of 
our Priends, I believe to their rest with the Lord. The Lord, 
if it be his will, sanctify to us that are yet spared this dispensa- 
tion of his judgments, and bring us all low and humble be- 
fore him, into true obedience to his holy will ! and 0, that we 
may have strength to serve him, and walk worthy of his love 
and mercy ! for I firmly believe he has, in this the time of sore 
affliction, abundantly mixed mercy with judgment, in taking 
away the prepared, that others may be humbled, and prepare 
to meet him. The Lord knows, I often thank him in secret, 
that he was pleased to visit me in the beginning of this 
sickness, although it was very violent on me, and I was out 
of hope of recovery by many ; but the Lord in mercy raised 
me up again ; and 0, that I may walk worthy, that I may 
make suitable returns to him for his love ! I thank the 
Lord, he has brought me a little lower than I was before ; 
and his love is now sweet to my poor soul ; and I humbly 
beg of the Lord, to bring me yet more and more into 
obedience. Oh that I may serve him ! My soul has 
rejoiced, although in this humbling day, that he has come 
to purge Philadelphia ; for as I may say, he sat as a refiner's 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 151 

fire ; lie has come near, even to the bottom of the heart, to 
cleanse it. Oh ! I am thankful for my portion of this 
visitation, and so, I have great cause to believe, are many 
more besides me ; the Lord bring it home to us all. This 
sickness began about the first of the Sixth Month, and con- 
tinued till about two or three weeks ago, very violent, 
carrying people off in four or five days generally, some 
longer and some sooner ; there were sometimes four or five 
buried in one day, and sometimes as many as seven or eight. 
I only hear of one taken ill this two weeks last past, so that 
it appears that the sickness is abated. By the accounts 
received, we suppose in all about 230 are dead. I have 
thought meet thus to acquaint thee how things have been, 
and how they are as near as I can. There has been none 
buried out of tins family except dear Roger Gill; though in 
most families in town, some are dead, and most sick ; there 
is but here and there one dead hereabouts in the country, 
and it is mostly as healthy as at other times. Thanks be to 
the Lord, his Truth prospers through afflictions. With 
dear love to thee, 

I am, in haste, thy friend, 

¥m. Fishbourn." 

" Philadelphia, the 4th of 9th mo. 1699. 
Dear Friend, Wm. Ellis ; 

I received thy two letters from Maryland, and 
one from London, soon after thou arrivedst there, and one 
from dear Walter Fawcitt ; and with Friends here, was truly 
glad of your safe arrival and health. As to the Lord's 
visitation over this poor town, since the beginning of the 
sixth month, in which time many of our dear Friends and 
others, have been removed, I suppose to the number of 
200 within ten weeks' time, I refer thee to dear Aaron's 



152 LIFE AND COEEESPONDENCE OF 

and to other accounts. It has pleased God in great mercy to 
spare me, my wife and children, and family hitherto, which 
I look upon as a mercy more than ordinary ; and desire we 
may all prize it, and walk worthy of it, for we have had, at 
times, in both families, above twenty persons taken sick, 
some violently with the distemper, and none have died but 
dear brother Abraham Hardiman and dear Roger Gill, who 
died in our house : it being in a time when the distemper was 
exceedingly mortal, so that few recovered, and some whole 
families of our near neighbours were almost all taken away. 
Dear Thomas Musgrave and Thomas Wilson's wife, and 
near fifty more of the passengers and ship's company died 
on board a vessel coming hither from Liverpool ; and about 
twenty more since they came on shore ; of which number 
Thomas Wilson was one. Here are many poor fatherless 
children and widows, of these, and of others that died here ; 
so that the care and concern upon Friends now is greater 
than ever; and' there are fewer to perform the work of the 
day ; but I hope the Lord will raise up more, and fit and 
prepare Friends for their particular services and duties, and 
make them willing and cheerful in the discharge thereof, 
though at present the work seems difficult, especially in this 
place. The Lord enable us and make us diligent and 
faithful, and then hard things will seem easy. Mine and 
my wife's dear love is to thee and thine, and to dear Walter 
Pawcitt, our dear love also to Joseph Kirkbride ; I received 
his letter enclosed in Nathaniel Puckle's, which gave account 
of their arrival ; his family is well, for ought I know, also 
dear Walter's. This comes by dear Richard Gove to Mary- 
land, who intends for England with Aaron; I have not 
time to enlarge, therefore conclude with my dear love to 
thee and thine, 

Thy friend, 

Samuel Caepentee." 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 153 

Edward Shippen, the writer of the following letter, was 
the father-in-law of Thomas Story : he was a respectable 
Friend, formerly of Boston, and subsequently of Philadelphia : 
he was Speaker in the House of Assembly in L695, being 
member for Philadelphia. — See Proud' s History of Penn- 
sylvania, Yol. II. page 26. 

"Philadelphia, the 27th of 7th mo. 1699. 

Dear and wellbeloved friend, Wm. Ellis ; 

I received thy letter from Chester, also thy 
last from London, which gave account of thy safe arrival in 
London, which we were all glad to hear, and were also 
rejoiced to hear the hopeful account thou gavest of my son. 
I desire as thou hast opportunity when in London to advise 
him for his good. I read and considered thy letters, and I 
have sent by our dear friend, Aaron Atkinson, 12| oz. of gold, 
it cost here £7 6 1 Os. currency. I suppose it will sell in London 
for something above £50 sterling, the which I have desired 
our friend Aaron to dispose of or sell ; and I do leave the 
disposing of it to thee and him among poor Eriends, where 
there is most need, either in Yorkshire or Cumberland ; for 
I have nothing in my eye to one county or place more than 
another, but where it may be most helpful to poor Eriends ; 
and if there be a meeting at Alethey, where I was born, 
I desire to know ; and whether they be in want ; and if it 
be not too much trouble, what their names are ; and as thou 
hast opportunity and freedom, I shall be glad to hear from 
thee, if it should please the Lord to spare me a little longer, 
for it is an exercising time with most here, and it still con- 
tinues very sickly. The Lord hath been pleased to take a 
great many from us. I shall leave the particulars to our 
friend Aaron to give thee an account ; my desire to the Lord 
is, that we may all be fitted and prepared to meet the Lord 



154 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

when it shall please him to take us out of this troublesome 
world. So with mine, my wife's and children's dear love to 
thee, in that which changeth not, 

I am thy real friend, 

Edward Shippen." 



"Aykebank, 10th of the 7th mo. 1699. 

Dear Friend, Alice Ellis ; 

These with the salutation of that love to thee 
which manifesteth us to be Christ's disciples before the face 
of all people. My friend, thou art often in my remembrance, 
and mostly when Truth is near ; and when it is so, I cannot 
easily withhold praises from the Lord on thy behalf; for 
thy carriage and deportment, and all I saw thee concerned 
in, did tend to the honour and glory of God, the exaltation 
of his Truth, and the good of his people. I believe the 
Lord is with thee, and hath blessed thee, and will bless thee, 
as thou abidest faithful to him. I believe he hath made 
thee a right, and an honourable nursing mother in his 
Israel, and a sure pillar in his house, which shall never go 
out. Oh ! my friend, as thou nndest freedom, let thy 
prayers ascend up to the Lord for me, that I may be pre- 
served near him in my little and low station; for blessed, 
yea ever blessed be his worthy Name, his divine pleasure is 
such as to touch my heart, as with the finger of his divine 
love, I think, not to make me to appear in public, but for 
the drawing of my mind more near unto himself. Truth I 
hope is on the growing hand : people are inquiring the way 
to Zion. I hope there are several convinced, if not con- 
verted unto God in righteousness. Many eyes are over us ; 
some for good ; the Lord, saith my soul, take all stumbling 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 155 

blocks out of the way, that the poor and needy souls may 
go safely on their way. The Lord keep Friends' minds 
near hiin, out of pride, high-mindedness, self-righteousness, 
and vain glory, and that their whole delight may be to give 
all glory and honour to the Lord God and the Lamb who is 
eternally worthy, now and for evermore, world without end, 
Amen, Amen. My dear love is to thy husband and Adam 
Squire. Dear Alice, I desire to have a few lines from thy 
hand as thou findest freedom. These are from thy poor, 
weak, and low friend, 

John Slack." 



"To William Ellis. 

London, the 2nd of the 10th mo. 1699. 
Dear Friend ; 

Thine I received of the 18th of last month, after 
it had been some short time with Samuel Harrison ; and I 
am glad at all times to hear of thee, but sorrowful that thou 
art under so much exercise. I cannot blame thee for 
mourning for the loss of a good man, [John Wynn, of 
Bradford]. Good men are too few everywhere; and it is 
our Christian duty to be kind and affectionate one towards 
another. Good men, who were devout, in the primitive 
times, made lamentation for the loss of Stephen ; and it is 
a fault to be otherwise minded ; for God complained in old 
time, that the righteous were taken away and no man re- 
garded it, or laid it to heart. The Lord help thee in thy 
service for him, and stand by thee, if he take away thy 
outward helps ; he is able to supply their place abundantly 
by the divine aid of his Holy Spirit, and to give thee power 
over unclean spirits ; yea, if thou tread on scorpions they 
shall not hurt thee ; but I am not without hope that as he 



156 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

calls one servant ont of the vineyard, lie will send another 
servant into it ; for he knows that the work is great, and 
that there are at present few hands to do it, of snch as are 
trne and faithful in their labour. He is the great Lord of 
the harvest ; he knows what is best, and he takes pity on his 
own, and will not work them over long in the field, though 
some he suffers to tarry longer than others, for ends best 
and indeed only known to himself; and those servants 
whom he calls away, it is in mercy to them ; they have the 
advantage of us that tarry behind, in a double respect ; not 
only that they are discharged from their labours, but also 
that they are thereby secured from losing the reward of 
their work ; being where there is no sin, nor temptation to 
sin ; but where they for ever receive an endless portion of 
life and joy; and to eternity praise and glorify the name of 
God and of the Lamb. My dear love to thy wife ; my 
wife's dear love to thee and to her. William Robinson is 
well ; Friends here are the like. I am confined to small 
compass in paper, but not in love, wherein I am large, 
and remain 

Thy true friend and brother, 

John Tomkins." 



"London, the 13th of the 10th mo. 1699. 

Dear friend, Wm. Ellis ; 

I have received thy two letters about thy 
sorrowful exercises on parting with thy ancient friend, coun- 
seller and comforter. It was a hard case of old, when the 
righteous were taken away and no man laid it to heart, 
though surely they were taken from the evil to come. 
There are few good men now removed but many find the 
miss of them, and although, through the goodness of God, 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 157 

many honest-hearted are still among the living, yet which of 
them can be spared ? But when they must go from us, we 
though sorrowful in parting from them, must conclude that 
though it is our loss, it is their great gain, a cessation from 
their exercises, their sorrows, their diseases, their cares and 
their fears of being drawn into temptation, and from a world 
of troubles and ruffling storms, into a heaven of sanctity and 
sweetness of peace, such as is best guessed at by us, by the 
sweet earnests of it which our souls have had comfortable 
tastes of by the way. Oh ! that nothing may divert our 
daily progress towards it, and our further fitting for it. Thy 
friend is not the alone worthy servant of the Lord, of late 
removed ; our late letters give an account from Pennsylvania 
of many ; two, well noted, I remember by name, are dear 
Eoger Gill, that was Thomas Story's companion, also Thomas 
Duckett. It has been a sore time there, and in Carolina. 
In Carolina, it is written, 150 have died, and in Pennsyl- 
vania many in a day. We have had repeated warnings, and 
a contagious sickness hath been in many lands, and wars 
almost round about us, and this nation yet greatly preserved. 
How well were it, if the long-suffering of God did lead men 
to repentance ! It was said of old, If judgment begin at 
the house of God, where shall the sinners and the ungodly 
appear ; and how far the sufferings of the people of God in 
our land may fall under that consideration is worthy of 
notice. The Just did suffer for the unjust, that he might 
bring many sons to glory ; and how far the Lord may cause 
the sufferings of his people to redound to his own glory, and 
the good of men, is worth observing. Many, during times 
of sufferings were convinced, and Priends having, through 
the Lord's assistance, somewhat overcome by suffering them 
that caused them to suffer, have arrived at peace. This also 
is a day of gathering men to the knowledge of the God of 
Peace, that hath in measure bruised and brought Satan's 



158 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

power down, in that sort ; and though in times of peace 
men of craft have set up for themselves, and gathered to 
themselves, and with shows of outside religion, gained 
people to themselves, yet not having either loaves or fishes 
to feed the multitude with, it is my firm persuasion, they 
will faint and grow weary, and many come to see their 
real want of bread from heaven in this wilderness. As the 
body by amazement or diversion, may for a time forget the 
food it wanteth, yet that forgetfulness will not always last ; 
so the souls of many have been diverted from considering 
their real need ; but I do hope the Lord is bringing, and 
will bring, many to a sense of their hunger, and then they 
will cry for bread. While men dream that all is well with 
them, and that they are eating and drinking, how are they 
pleased, but when they awake and find themselves hungry, 
how willing then are they to enjoy in substance, that which 
before, in shadows, they only dreamed of. This, I believe, 
is the state of multitudes, and thanks to the Lord, he is 
raising up many to run to and fro, to awaken people, that 
they may be aroused and see where they are, and what they 
have been doing ; and those whom he thus commissions are 
a people that are awake themselves, and see that the night 
is far past, and that the true Light doth shine, and thereby 
they discern the feast that is prepared and the table that is 
spread, where nothing is wanting but guests with the wedding 
garment on. Oh ! that none who are bidden may any more 
sleep the sleep of death ; but that they may haste and come 
away and partake, and partaking, praise the Lord. I am 
glad thy dear wife is of this number ; the Lord, if it be his 
will, strengthen her faith and confidence, that trusting in 
him, she may be strong in his might, and bold in his 
moving, to declare his great and notable day, that hath 
broken forth to a remnant, and must go on to the ends of the 
earth. The Lord hasten this his work, for his own glory, 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 159 

and for the good of the souls of men ! that righteousness 
may be every where exalted, and Truth and peace flow 
as a mighty river; that high praises to his power may 
everywhere be sounded aloud henceforth and for ever ! So 
with unfeigned love, I salute thee and Friends who know 
me, and rest 

Thy hearty friend, 

Theodore Eocleston." 



John Wynn, whose death is referred to in the two pre- 
ceding letters, was convinced of the soundness of the 
principles held by the Society of Friends, whilst a soldier 
in London, about 1662 : he laid down his arms at a review, 
and when discharged he removed into Yorkshire, and settled 
at Bradford, where he worked at his trade as a clothier : he 
became an able minister of the Gospel, and was a nursing 
father in the church of Christ : his service in this character 
is affectingly set forth in the following testimony respecting 
him by "William Ellis. 



The Testimony of "William Ellis, concerning John Wynn. 

There hath been a testimony upon my mind for some time 
concerning John Wynn of Bradford, in the County of 
York, who died in the favour of God and in unity with 
his faithful brethren, on the 16th of the 9th month, 
1699. 

I may truly say, the Lord's goodness hath been 
great to mankind in these last days ; in which mercy and 
kindness he reached to my heart and soul, about the seven- 
teenth year of my age. And in those days the Friend 



160 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

above-said was made an instrument in the hand of God for 
my help and confirmation in that faith that the Lord had 
bestowed upon me ; and as I grew in years, he having a sense 
that grace did abound in me, to the working out of the old 
corruption that had gotten fast root in me, he grew tender 
to me, and laboured to help forward that good work which 
the Almighty had begun. And when it pleased God to work 
upon me so as to open my heart to bear testimony to his holy 
Arm, that was and is revealed and made bare for the recovery 
of man again, he had abundance of care over me, and often 
exhorted me to attend truly upon him that had bestowed his 
good gift upon me, that so I might grow in the Root of Life ; 
and he would be now and then telling me where he saw many 
had gone out and lost themselves that had received good 
gifts. And he often gave me advice to beware of wrong 
spirits, in resisting their divers ways of appearing, to deceive 
the simple ; and on this manner his care was over me for 
more than twenty years. And often he sounded his trumpet 
in meetings where my lot was cast ; and I must needs say, 
though his ministry was sharp, yet it was searching and 
powerful, with effect in it, even to the awakening of my soul 
to judgment, and that I might meet the Lord in the way 
thereof. And it was so, that my heart was made willing to 
receive his reproofs, admonition, and good counsel, from time 
to time : and a little before his departure out of this life, he 
came to visit Friends hereaway, and Oh ! what strength and 
power, and zeal were upon him ; in which he advised Friends 
to continue steadfast in faith and in love to God and one to 
another ; and that Friends might keep up their testimony 
against all that would break in upon the liberties God hath 
given them ; and that a true labour might be continued to 
keep good order in the church. 

And when I heard that he was taken away, my soul was 
troubled within me, knowing the great advantage I had 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 161 

gained ; yet after a time of great retirement, my heart was 
overpowered with that ancient virtue of life that springs from 
the Fountain of everlasting life ; and in this I did then 
firmly believe, that his soul was gone to rest for ever, to sing 
the songs of thanksgiving to the Lord and to the Lamb, for 
ever and ever. Oh ! the unutterable joy, and harmonious 
sounds of songs of high praises that have filled my heart 
when I have remembered him, with many others whom I am 
satisfied did delight to serve God in their day, and followed 
Mm truly like the worthies of old. And the sense of this 
reward and crown of life being laid up for the faithful, makes 
my soul the more earnestly to travel forward, and be the 
more watchful over my ways, and labour fervently to be the 
more given up in soul, body, and substance, so that at the 
last upshot of all, through Him that hath loved me and 
washed me from my sins in his own most precious blood, I 
may receive a sentence of Well done ; and come to know an 
entrance into the resting place with the Almighty, and with 
the spirits of just men made perfect in Christ. The sense of 
these things hath been at times upon my mind, and I could 
not truly see that I should discharge myself till I had written 
the abovesaid. 

Wm. Ellis/' 



31 



162 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 



CHAPTEE XII. 

Letter to William Ellis and Aaron Atkinson from several Friends in 
New England. Letters from Samuel Galloway, John Tomkins, 
Samuel Carpenter, "William Edmundson. Notice of Joseph Scarth. 
Letters from Joseph Scarth and Aaron Atkinson to "William Ellis. 
"William Ellis to Richard Johns and Samuel Galloway. 

Peleg Slocum, one of the persons whose names are 
signed to the following document, is mentioned by John 
Eichardson in connexion with a remarkable visit to the 
island of Nantucket, as an honest public-friend, from near 
Ehode Island, and master of a sloop. — Life of John 
Eichardson, Ed. 1843, page 84 to 94. 

Some of the other parties are mentioned incidentally by 
Thomas Story. In his Journal Polio, pages 349 and 350, 
he says " On the 4th I went to Dartmouth, and lodged that 
night with John Tucker ; where I met with Jacob Mott the 
younger, returned from Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania; 
of whom I had an account of our affairs there within the 
compass of his travels. On the 9th I was at Dartmouth 
Meeting again, and that evening I went with Peleg Slocum, 
where I staid till Second-day evening, and then went home 
with Stephen Wilcox, who came on purpose to conduct me 
to his house, which was between Dartmouth and Seconet." 

"Portsmouth, in New England, 
the 11th of 10th mo. 1699. 
Loving friends, Wm. Ellis & Aaron Atkinson; 

Our souls salute you in the unchangeable love 
of our Heavenly Pather, who laid a concern upon you, to 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 163 

pay us a visit here in New England, which hath been to the 
convincing of several in this place, and of great service and 
refreshment to our souls ; God be praised for it ! The 
Lord opened the hearts of Friends in this place, to con- 
tribute freely to the building of our meeting-house : and it 
is accomplished, and we had our Yearly Meeting in it. 
There were many Friends from other places present ; and we 
had a very good meeting ; for the presence of the Lord was 
with us, to our great comfort and satisfaction ; and we have 
a men's and a women's meeting settled amongst us once a 
month, which is of good service ; and we can truly say that 
Truth doth grow and prosper among us, and that we have 
reaped the fruit of your labours ; and we pray the Lord to 
keep us still in love, truly, to himself, and one to another, 
to the end of our days ; so the work of the Lord goes on 
and our meeting is greatly increased in this place ; blessed 
be the Name of the Lord for it ! Having given you tins 
short account of how things are amongst us, our dear love 
is remembered to you both, in the blessed Truth which 
changeth not, which reached unto us in the beginning, from 
Him who hath gathered us to be a people, who were not a 
people, and hath said, Jacob shall dwell alone and shall not 
be mixed amongst the people ; praises be given unto him, 
who is God over all, blessed for evermore ! 

Joanna Mott Jacob Mott, Jun. 

Mary Slocum Peleg Slocum 

Ruth Tucker Abraham Tucker 

Cassandra Mott John Lapham 

Mary Lapham Eleazor Slocum 

Hannah Tucker Stephen Wilcock 

Hasadiah Eussell John Tucker 

M % 



164 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

Eor a notice of Richard Hill, who it appears by the 
following letter, accompanied Aaron Atkinson on his return 
to England, see page 143. 

"West River, the 4th of the ] 2th mo. 1699. 
My friend, Wm, Ellis, 

"Whom I truly love and salute in the un- 
changeable Truth of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in mercy to 
our poor souls and for the honour of his Truth, hath in this 
day of his power, in a great measure plucked our feet out of 
the mire and clay, and set them on the Rock, Christ, the 
foundation of the righteous in all generations. Thy kind 
letter is come to hand ; thy love in it I take very kindly, 
and do in truth desire a renewedness of correspondence. 
Our dear friend, Aaron Atkinson, has had a great service 
amongst us, and now is bound home with Richard Hill ; 
the Lord I hope will conduct him safe to his own country. 
By Aaron Atkinson come these lines, so I shall be at this 
time the shorter to thee, seeing he is able to give thee an 
account of the affairs of Truth with us ; but in short, and in 
truth, this account I have to give thee ; Truth prospers with 
us, and there is a greater convincement amongst people than 
I have known in my time. The Lord, if it be his will, raise 
up those that may sound forth his Truth amongst us. So dear 
friend in that which first brought us acquainted the one with 
the other, do I salute thee, and conclude with mine and my 
dear and honest wife's love to thee and thine, 

Samuel Galloway." 

"London, the 10th of the 12th mo. 1699. 
Dear friend, Wm. Ellis ; 

In the fellowship of Truth I dearly salute thee ; 
remembering thy love, and having thy zeal for God in mind, 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 165 

and that thy desires are that the Church, which is the Bride, 
the Lamb's wife, ma} 7 be all pure and fair, made beautiful 
through the comeliness winch He is putting upon her ; and 
that there may be a spirit of love and zeal and true judgment, 
in a sound mind, found in every member thereof, according 
to the measure of the gift of Christ. That every one in a 
true concern and care, as in the sight of God, may know 
his own place in the Church ; every one walking according 
to the rule of the new creature ; all having regard unto the 
Head, holding the Head, as the Apostle saith, in whom 
every member is so fitly joined unto the body, that in the 
receiving of the mercies of the life of the Head, which 
supplieth and nourisheth every part, all parts thereby may 
grow up, and together make a spiritual house unto God, all 
eyeing him, and knowing their places in the body, — that 
body which edifies itself in love ; that body which is at 
unity with its own members : all praising God in their 
several offices, being also comfortable one with another in 
the exercise of their offices in the Church ; all having regard 
unto the Lord, the supreme Head of all. None will, as 
they keep to the Boot, and know the Boot to bear them, 
boast themselves against the Eoot, but will daily be in a 
concern of spirit, to feel the virtue and sap of the Eoot to 
arise up and make their branches living and green, fit to be 
serviceable in their station ; and as all keep here, none will 
desire to rise up against their fellow members of the same 
body, nor assume the place or office of another ; but all will 
desire to know and to serve in their own places, keeping 
their eye unto the Lord who is the dispenser of his own 
gifts, and bestows his talents as he pleases; remembering 
what was said by the Lord to those whose eye was evil, 
because his eye was good. Is it not lawful for me to do 
what I will with my own ? I do thee no wrong ; take that 
thine is and go thy way. Those who are truly sensible of 



166 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OE 

the Lord's mercy to them, will esteem it a great mercy to be 
but as the least in the Lord's family. It was but one thing, 
chiefly, that a great and wise man of old time desired, and 
that he purposed to seek, That he might dwell in God's 
house for ever ; and it was not a great place that he sought 
in that house neither, but that of a door-keeper, so that he 
might but dwell therein. His mind was not high to desire 
like the two sons of Zebedee, one to sit at the right hand of 
his Lord and the other at the left ; but he chose that mean 
office rather than to dwell in the tents of the wicked. The 
true members of Christ are all in harmony aud concord 
with Christ the Head, who said, Learn of me, I am meek 
and lowly in heart. Oh ! before honour comes humility. 
Do any desire to be preferred in God's service ; the way to 
it is to be like our great Pattern and Example ; and then, if 
we be faithful and content with the place we are in, the 
Governor of the household and family of God, will take 
notice of us, as it is said in the parable which Himself made 
to teach us humility ; "When thou art bidden to a feast, go 
and sit down in the lowest room, that when he that bade 
thee cometh, he may say to thee, Friend go up higher ; then 
shalt thou have honour in the presence of them that sit at 
meat; for whosoever exalts himself shall be abased, but 
whosoever humbleth himself shall be exalted. These few 
lines of our Lord's have abundance of doctrine in them. 
Dear Friend, when I began I intended not thus to write ; 
but thus it opened, and I have sent it ; I know that he to 
whom I write will receive it in the best sense. 

I have considered thy last letter, dated the 12th of 11th 
month, and I think if any unruly walkers be among you, 
and of the female sex, there is a very good exhortation from 
our ancient Friend, dear George Fox, among the Epistles 
lately printed in one volume, of which I suppose every 
Monthly Meeting took a copy ; it is to be found in the 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 167 

368th folio, entitled, "An Encouragement to all the faithful 
Women's Meetings in the World, &c." It was written on 
purpose to quiet unruly spirits who were ready to make a 
mutiny in the church, about the separation of J. Perrot and 
J. AYilkinson. There are many brave instances of the worth 
and of the good behaviour of holy women of old time in the 
Church of Christ Jesus. I am sorry to hear of thy indispo- 
sition, but am glad thou wast recovering : I hope thy health 
is perfected ere this. William Robinson, my neighbour, has 
been ill about a week, but is recovering. I am, through 
mercy, indifferent in health, was lately out about a week, am 
now going again about the same time or more. Truth 
prospers ; Friends' hearts, who are faithful, are strong in the 
Lord, and full of faith, so that notwithstanding the creeping 
of the subtle serpent within doors, and the roaring of the 
devouring lion without doors, Zion remains immovable and 
cannot be shaken, being founded upon the Rock which is 
higher than all ; blessed be the Lord for ever ! Mine and 
my wife's dear love to thee and thine. I remain, desiring 
to hear from thee, 

Thy true and faithful friend, 

John Tomkins." 



"Burlington, the 28th of 12th mo. j^ 9 . 

Dear Wm. Ellis, 

I was not willing to let this opportunity slip 
without signifying mine and my wife's dear love to thee and 
thine, and to Walter Eawcitt, Joseph Kirkbride, and Ann 
Dilworth, and to other Eriends that know us, particularly 
unto all those that have laboured in the love of God amongst 
us, who have been prophets and apostles and as God's mes- 
sengers to us ; and so I esteem them ; and desire that we 



168 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OP 

may be worthy of so great blessings to be continued unto 
us. Methinks I sensibly miss them; and it is matter 
of sorrow to remember the loss of several of our dear 
Eriends by death, before they returned to their dear 
relations, friends and brethren, viz. dear Robert Barrow, 
Eobert Wardell, Mary Rogers, and Jacob Eallowfield; 
the last in his voyage from Barbadoes towards this place, 
and dear Mary in her passage from Nevis or Antigua 
to Jamaica : but though to us that remain, it is a loss, to 
them it is doubtless gain, who are taken from the evil to 
come, and freed from those hardships, exercises and travails 
which did attend them in their pilgrimage and services; 
and I believe they enjoy as the reward of their faithfulness 
and obedience, joy and peace with the Lord for ever, where 
there are no dangers, temptations, trials, sighings or sorrow- 
ings, such as are with us who remain behind. Bear friend ! 
time being short, and having many letters to write, accept 
of these hasty lines as a token of my dear love and respect 
to thee and Friends, in remembrance of thine and their 
services for the Truth among us. I desire that we may all 
answer the love of God to us therein, and in all other of his 
renewed and repeated favours and mercies everywhere ex- 
tended towards us. Dear Governor Penn, his wife, daughter, 
and young son are in health. 

I remain thy dear friend and brother, 

Samuel Carpenter." 



' { Rossenallis, the 5th of 1st mo. 1700. 
Dear William Ellis, 

I received thine from Liverpool, the 8th 
of 12th month last, and am glad to hear from thee ; and 
that thou, with many more of the younger sort, art so well 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 169 

concerned for the promotion of the blessed Truth, which will 
be your crown and diadem as you continue in well doing ; 
for continuing steadfast to the end crowns all the labours of 
all the faithful followers of Christ. The Lord enlarge your 
understandings in the knowledge of his will, and of the 
mystery of his kingdom, and increase your numbers to stand 
firm in his testimony for his Truth, and the rights and privi- 
leges thereof, without wavering, as pillars in his house ! I 
am glad to hear that Truth prospers and hath dominion; 
for it is Christ that must rule and have the government, that 
all power in heaven and earth is given to, and is the 
strongest, that is overturning all that stands in opposition, 
and is reforming and bringing all things into their right 
order, use, and service, according to the infinite wisdom of 
God. Where the harmony is known, praises are given to 
the wise Creator of all things visible and invisible; and 
the glorious day of the restitution of all things shines 
forth more and more, in its clear discoveries and manifesta- 
tions of all things that are needful for us to know ; and our 
part is, to arise in the light of this glorious day, and shake 
ourselves from the dust of the earth, and put on the beautiful 
garment of the righteousness of the heavenly man. The 
glory of this bright Gospel-day shines amongst us, and many 
are affected by the discoveries of it, and have a godly con- 
cern upon their hearts for promoting the Lord's work ac- 
cording to their utmost ability ; and the work of reformation 
prospers in their hands, as instruments in the hand of the 
Lord. Church affairs are narrowly looked into, and 
Gospel order is closely prosecuted, and hidden things are 
brought to light ; and it is come to Jerusalem's turn to be 
searched ; and the Lord hath enlightened the spirits of his 
faithful servants to be his candles, to find out things that do 
offend, and must not enter the kingdom of Christ. The 
Lord is with us in this close work for his honour, and crowns 



170 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

our assemblies with his goodness, and is mouth and wisdom 
in all services, and the power of Truth is over all, blessed 
be his great name for ever and ever ! Amen. 

Now, Dear William, thou and all Friends that desire to 
hear from me, may know, that I am very well, and able to 
prosecute the service of Truth according to my station, be- 
yond the ordinary course of nature, considering my age and 
exercises that have fallen to my lot in my time. I bless the 
Lord, my understanding is firm as ever, and I am able to 
travel easy journeys. This last summer George Rook and I 
travelled some hundreds of miles in Truth's service, in Con- 
naught and some counties in the north, in unbroken places, 
where we had many serviceable and satisfactory meetings, 
with good reception by many of divers ranks; and the 
Lord's testimony in his glorious power was over all, and 
crowned our service over all opposers. This winter, I am 
not so able to travel as formerly ; but I am hearty and 
sound ; only old age comes on ; but I love to be with the 
Lord's plough, where there is occasion to plough up the 
fallow ground. Too many are too earnest to sow amongst 
thorns, thistles, briers, and tares, which hurts the Lord's 
husbandry, and obstructs the fruit that should glorify God. 
We are hard and close at work in this great harvest day ; 
and I love to be with the Lord's workfolks, to see how the 
work goes on, and to lend my hand and heart, in as much 
as I am able ; and it looks to me as though the Lord had 
something for me to do, of some small revision of my day's- 
work ; and his blessed will be done that never failed me, nor 
any that fervently trusted in him. So with my true love to 
thee and thine, in the unchangeable Truth, 

I am thy sincere friend and brother, 

Wm. Edmundson." 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 171 

Joseph Scarth, the writer of the following letter, was a 
minister in Whitby Meeting. There is little on record 
respecting him, but that he married Miriam Smales of Brid- 
lington, in 1688, and was liberated by his Monthly Meeting 
in 1699, to pay a religious visit to the West part of York- 
shire and some parts adjacent. The register of his death is 
in 1710. 



"Whitby, the 6th of 1st mo. ™ 
Dear friend, Wm. Ellis, 

With design I give thee a few lines, I have 
several times had thee and thy wife in my memory. Not 
knowing that I shall be at the Quarterly Meeting, I take 
this opportunity of sending per Scarbro' Friends, who 
represent our Monthly Meeting this time. This perhaps 
may meet thee or thy wife at York. With dear love I 
salute you both : keeping in the covenant of love and life 
engages us to remember one another ; therein are we made 
living members of Christ and one of another, desiring each 
other's good and prosperity in that unchangeable Truth of 
our God, which he has, in his infinite love and by his living 
power, gathered and drawn us into, that we may glorify him 
in our lives and conversation, and labour therein for the 
honour of Ins Name and the mutual comfort of our poor 
souls. I pray God preserve us, guide and direct us in his 
wisdom and counsel ; attend us with his divine power and 
presence, that we may continue unto the end. With dear 
love to thyself, wife, and friends, I conclude in haste, 

Thy truly loving fiiend, 

Joseph Scarth." 



172 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

London, 2nd mo. 1700. 

My dearly beloved and esteemed friend, ¥m. Ellis ; 

My love is kindly remembered to thee and thy 
dear wife ; yon are Friends that I both love and esteem. The 
God of Israel that heard the prayers of Cornelius, the same 
God, I believe, often looks upon you ; for I know you are 
found in the same good practice. Dear friend, I can never 
forget at times thy bowed down countenance before the Lord 
for me, and upon my account, in the time of affliction. I 
believe the Lord looked upon thy sincerity and the cry of 
thy soul ; for which his Name is worthy to be blessed while 
we have a day. My friend, I am glad when I think of thee, 
in hope thou mayst be a strength to me, if we should live 
awhile near to one another. I know the Lord loves thee in 
Ins merciful kindness ; and though some may tlrink, that 
know thee not, that thou art high, and thinkest to be over 
them, and that thou takest too much upon thee, like as the 
rebellious thousand said of Moses ; yet 1 know thee better, 
and that thou hast but very mean thoughts of thyself; 
yet the Lord that has not failed thee, bears up thy 
head ; blessed be Iris worthy Name for evermore ! Dear 
"William, I am well, and came on shore at Dover, in Kent, 
the 27th day of the 1st month. I came over in the same 
ship that thou earnest in, and lay in the same cabin thou 
lay in, and I loved it the better for thy sake. I observed 
thy order in thy letter, I never went up upon the deck 
above the cabin, no not all the way over. I hope to be 
at Leeds ere long after this comes to thy hand ; I shall 
be glad to see thee there. I have several letters for thee, 
but keep them to save the charge. I have something to 
employ thee in among the poor, a work thou lovest to 
be concerned in. These with true love from me thy loving 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 173 

Mend, that loves and esteems thee for thy sincerity's sake, 
and prays for long life for thee, 

Aaron Atkinson." 



"To Richard Johns and Samnel Galloway. 

Airton, the 4th of the 9th mo. 1700. 
Dear Eriends ; 

"With the salutation of unfeigned love to you, 
and all Friends in Maryland as you may see meet, this may 
let you know, that through the Lord's mercy, I am indif- 
ferent well, and that though we be far separated one from 
another, yet you are often in my remembrance. The love 
unfeigned that the Lord raised in our hearts is not for- 
gotten by me ; and in that love my heart and soul are often 
in a deep travail for your preservation, and that Truth may 
grow amongst you ; and in order thereunto, that all Eriends 
be advised to put on zeal as a garment, and let their love be 
fervent to the Lord. Let your fervency be demonstrated in 
often gathering together ; and when met, let a firm travail 
be upon your minds for the enjoyment of the Lord's good- 
ness, that they may not be said Nay of him. Let all 
Eriends come up in their places and bring their children 
and servants to meetings on "Week-days and on Eirst-days 
likewise : and let all come over that doubtful spirit that 
is and hath been too apt to keep Eriends back in their 
service. Tell them, that if they serve the Lord to the 
full, their outward things will not fail. It was said 
by one of the Lord's worthies, That once he had been 
young but now he was old, but he never saw the righte- 
ous forsaken nor his seed begging bread. "Whatsoever 
stands in the way of your coming up as aforesaid, let the 
Lord's power come upon it, and whether it be poverty, or 



174 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OP 

the abounding of riches, it will remove it ; and when thus 
met, and the Lord's power comes upon any, do not limit it, 
but let it work ; and if it bring up a word of exhortation, 
speak it freely ; but be sure it be in the Name of the Lord ; 
and if any find a word upon them that is deep and weighty, 
so that they can say, Tor Zion's sake I cannot rest, and for 
Jerusalem's sake I cannot be silent, encourage all such to 
pour forth their complaints before the Lord, that the Lord's 
work may prosper, and Friends grow in their measure and 
the gifts bestowed upon them ; and in the Lord's power run 
from one meeting to another, and stir up the pure mind in 
one another, and then the beauty of Truth will appear, and 
the face of Him will shine that hath been more marred than 
the face of any man ; and as his comeliness appears, the 
world and its glory will fade away. My soul, O my soul 
within me ! is in a deep travail for your growth in the most 
precious Truth ; and that your young people may grow in 
the knowledge of it and in love to it ; and I humbly desire 
that Friends may train up their young children in the know- 
ledge of the Law and the Prophets ; that when the Truth 
reaches their understandings, they may worship the God of 
their fathers, believing all that is written in the Old and 
New Testaments ; that from one generation to another, the 
Lord's Name may be famous amongst our own posterity. 
And dear Friends, as there were several amongst you that 
had a sense of my soul's travail ; that it was not only that 
worship and service might be performed to the Lord, but 
that Friends might discern between the precious and the 
vile, and that the Lord's Name and power might rule over 
your families, and over your trades and trading, and over all 
superfluity in apparel, or whatsoever else ; and as my travail 
was full as much in secret as I could utter with my speech, 
therefore my desire is, that all Friends may truly labour to 
bring Truth's testimony up over all that would oppose it ; 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 175 

and I do not doubt that in so doing, the Lord will descend 
upon you with multitudes of blessings, and they will rest 
upon you as dew upon the tender grass. And whereas it 
hath fallen for your lots to be exercised with wrong spirits, 
whose pretence was to build up Zion, but whose works 
declared that they were for pulling down the walls thereof ; 
and the Lord hath showed you great mercy in giving you 
length of days, and to see his power come over these wrong 
spirits, and bring down their evil design; now it is my 
advice, that all Friends, everywhere, watch apainst such 
wrong spirits, and with all speed let them be judged down. 
Dear Friends, I desire you all that are sincerely affected 
towards God, and feel his Word like a fire in your hearts, to 
run to and fro to spread the Truth ; and wherever there is 
anything that hath life and substance in it, visit it, and 
labour to bring the Truth up, which that ranting spirit hath 
trodden down ; and remember that little meeting beyond the 
Potomack. So that grace, mercy, and peace may be mul- 
tiplied among you, is the desire of him who is your friend 
in that which changeth not, 

"Wm. Ellis." 

The copy of this was sent into Maryland, to be read 
amongst Friends at the Eastern and Western Shore, as 
might be seen meet. 



176 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 



CHAPTEE XIII. 



Visit of Samuel Bownas to William Ellis. Notices of Samuel Bownas, 
James Wilson, Gilbert Heathcot, and Jennet Stow. Letter from 
Gilbert Heathcot. Notices of John Butcher, Robert Huberstie, and. 
James Waithman. Remarkable Fungus. Letters from John Tom- 
kins, with an extract of a letter from John Richardson. Notices of 
John Taylor and Jeremiah Grimshaw. Letter from Theodore 
Eccleston, Notice of John Bowran, and letter from him. Notices 
of Isaac Alexander, Thomas Pearce, George Rook, John Ecroyd, and 
Lawrence King. Letter from Isaac Alexander. Letter to Nathan 
Newby, containing advice respecting the Scriptures. Notice of 
Thomas Rodman. Letter to Thomas Rodman. 



But few incidents relating to the life of William Ellis, 
after his return from America have been recorded, so that 
little but what is contained in his correspondence can be 
presented to the reader. The following notice of a visit to 
him is from the pen of Samuel Bownas, who in " An Account 
of his Life, Travels, and Christian Experiences in the Work of 
the Ministry, mentions being at Airton, in 1701, "where," 
he says, " that great and good man William Ellis, being then 
living and full of power, having great and solid experience 
concerning the work of the ministry, was very edifying to me 
by the wholesome counsel he gave. James Wilson was then 
with me, who was not at that time a public minister, yet of 
great service in visiting families, being closely engaged in 
spirit for maintaining good order and discipline. And we 
being very young in these things, this worthy Friend gave 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 177 

such advice to us both, with respect to a faithful coming up 
in our services, that we could with good reason say, that his 
words were " like apples of gold in pictures of silver y" for 
a long time after, the sense and virtue of them dwelt on my 
mind to my great advantage. We stayed with him one 
night, and had a small meeting, in which the preference and 
value I had for him, together with an awe that was upon my 
spirit concerning his great services and experience as a 
minister, took such place in my mind, that I was silent 
before him. Next day we took our leave, and he brought 
us on our way a little, heartily praying at parting, that 
I might be preserved in my place, and return with safety/' 

At the time the foregoing was written, William Ellis was 
about forty-three years of age, and Samuel Bownas twenty- 
five. The latter was on his way to London to take shipping 
for America, in order to pay a religious visit in that country. 
He was a native of Westmoreland, and was brought up 
among Friends, but did not become awakened to the im- 
portance of a religious life till he was about twenty years 
of age. He came forth in the ministry, under the con- 
straining influence of divine grace, at the expiration of 
one month from the day of his awakening. He soon became 
a diligent labourer in the Gospel, and took many journeys 
on that account, returning to his business as a blacksmith, 
or working as an agricultural labourer, in the intervals. The 
field of his religious labours embraced Great Britain, Ireland 
and North America. In the latter part of his . life, Samuel 
Bownas resided in Dorsetshire, in which county he died in 
1753, aged 77 years. — See Life of S. Bownas. 

James Wilson, who accompanied Samuel Bownas on his 
visit to William Ellis, was a native of Kirby Lonsdale, in 
Westmoreland : he was educated in the way of the Episcopal 
Church, but joined the Society of Eriends whilst a young 



178 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

man : lie became a minister in his thirtieth year, and was a 
serviceable man in various ways, and especially as a peace- 
maker. He died at Kendal, where he had long resided, in 
1769, aged 92 years.— See Piety Promoted, Part YIII. 

Gilbert Heathcot, the writer of the following letter, was a 
physician, who resided at Citthorp, near Chesterfield : he 
married a sister of Sir John Rhodes, of Balber Hall, respect- 
ing whom there is a notice in a subsequent part of this 
volume. Gilbert Heathcot appears to have been a useful 
member of the Society of Priends : he was appointed by the 
Yearly Meeting in 1704, along with "William Penn, to lay 
before the Queen the suffering case of Thomas Eudd, then a 
prisoner at Canterbury. 

Jennet Stow, who is noticed in this letter, became a 
minister within the compass of Settle Meeting, at an early 
age. She travelled in the exercise of her gift in various 
parts of Great Britain and Ireland, and died at Dronfield, in 
Derbyshire, in 1702, aged about 30 years. She was at- 
tended in her last illness by Gilbert Heathcot, to whom, 
along with William Ellis, she bequeathed her property, as 
appears by the following letter. Gilbert Heathcot, enter- 
tained a high esteem for his patient, and wrote a Testimony 
respecting her, which is attached to a notice of her in the 
Seventh Part of Piety Promoted. 

Dear friend, Wm. Ellis ; 

Our dear friend, Jennet Stow, having left the 
management of her affairs to us two, I have here sent thee 
her last will, which was made when I was from her, for I 
never wanted any of her worldly goods ; nor do I believe 
that our all-wise Master, that orders all things well, ever 
intended me to be paid (in that kind however) for what I did 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. J 79 

for my dear friend; so that whatever power I may have 
through or by this will, I wholly give it into thy hands, 
hoping the Lord will direct thee more wisely than I can. I 
have paid the charges of her funeral, and I think I have paid 
every body largely that showed her any help or kindness any 
way. I am not willing to give any account of the charges, 
because I intend to pay it all myself ; I only beg of thee to 
be very kind to Mary Simpson, and I think her relations 
should have some small token of her kindness, as thou 
thinkest fit. I believe it was the Lord's mind, she should 
end" her days with me; for which I am thankful to the 
Lord ; she was helpful to me in her life and death, and her 
memory is sweet. Dear William, I shall be glad to hear 
that I am brought into thy remembrance often. I am 
satisfied, a man of troubles I am like to be, and not of 
ordinary troubles ; however I am at present possessed with 
a humble confidence in my God, who never failed me yet, 
and T believe never will, if I can be honest and do my part, 
or rather, be willing to let the Lord do with me and for me 
what he pleases. My love is dearly to thee and thy wife ; 
your welfare I wish as my own ; and if ever we meet, may it 
be in that which makes all good meeetings ; and if it never 
be in this world, yet I hope we shall meet at the great and 
best meeting. My love is to all that are in the true love. 

Thy loving friend, 

Gilbert Heathcot." 

John Butcher, who is noticed in the following letter, was 
born in 1666 : his parents were estimable Friends : he 
became a minister when about fifteen years of age ; he visited 
many parts of Great Britain in the exercise of his gift, and 
was eminent as a peacemaker; he died in 1721, aged 55. — 
See Rety Promoted, Eighth Part, 

n2 



180 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OE 

William Bingley, who is also noticed in this letter, became 
a minister among Friends while residing in Yorkshire, and 
from this county visited Ireland in 1675 : he was also there 
again in 1682. He settled in London as a stuff-merchant 
when in the meridian of life, and in 1684 accompanied 
Samuel Waldenfield on an apostolic journey in Holland and 
the Netherlands. He was one of the Friends who preached 
at the funeral of George Fox, in 1690 ; and he appears to 
have paid religious visits to different parts of Great Britain 
at various periods. He died in London, in 1714, aged 
64 years. 

Robert Huberstie, of Yealand Conyers, in Lancashire, one 
of the prisoners mentioned in this letter, was committed to 
Lancaster Castle, for attending a meeting for worship, at a 
period when the Government of this country, urged by an 
intolerant clergy, conspired against the laws of God and the 
inalienable liberties of men, with the design of compelling 
all to worship, not according to the Gospel, but according 
to statute law : he joined the Society of Friends when about 
eighteen years of age. The Lord bestowed upon liim a gift 
in the ministry, in the exercise of which he visited the 
churches of Christ in many parts of England: he died 
in 1706, aged about 71 years. — See Piety Promoted, Part 
Fourth. 

James "Waithman, also mentioned in this letter as a 
prisoner, had been in prison for conscience' sake twice before 
the time noted here. The first time for refusing to swear, 
and the second for refusing to pay tithes. 

The " strange thing" noticed in New England, in John 
Richardson's letter quoted here, was probably a fungus ; both 
in form and stench it seems to have resembled a plant of 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 181 

the same tribe found in Great Britain, and called Phallus 
impudicus or Common Stinkhorn. The remarks upon it are 
curious, and show how much the mind may be excited for 
good or evil by an object not understood. 

"London, the 11th of the 10th mo. 1702. 

Deak, friend, ¥m. Ellis. 

I had thine last night ; it was very acceptable. 
I have had many remembrances of thee since I saw thee, and 
have been about to write, but have been prevented by divers 
occasions ; more of them have been to serve others than 
myself. I am glad thou hadst unity with my return home ; 
I knew not what weather was to come, so that was not the 
occasion ; but on my bed that night I did consult the 
oracle, and waited for an answer, as David said of old 
time : " Shall I go up to Keilah ;" and I saw my place was 
to return home and not to go. It is always safe to follow 
one's Guide, and not to be too inquisitive of the reasons ; 
but in faith and obedience to submit and follow the leadings 
of the Holy Spirit, which will never lead amiss. I am often 
comforted in the love, unity, and sweet refreshment that 
I met with amongst you at York, at that Morning Meeting 
of ministering Friends ; the uniting sweet fellowship I felt, 
engages my heart to the Lord, and also in love to his people. 
I reached Balber Hall on the Seventh-day at night, after I 
left thee, was at meeting at Woodhouse on First-day fol- 
lowing, on Third-day at Nottingham, and on Fourth-day at 
Leicester Meeting in course, and thought to have reached 
Northampton Quarterly Meeting, but was prevented, so got 
home on Seventh-day by noon. I have had my health 
better this winter hitherto, than last winter ; if the Lord 
continue it to me he shall have the service of it, for I am 
his, and I have dedicated my whole strength and days to his 



182 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

honour and the service of him and of his beloved people. I 
am glad Jeremiah Grimshaw is so well ; my dear love to 
him, I shall be glad to see him at London. John Field 
and John Butcher are well ; we are often together ; there is 
a knot of us bound up together in the bundle of the living ; 
blessed be the Lord ! and we are of one heart, and go one 
way, and speak the same thing in the Truth. William Bingley 
is gone to Norfolk. I am glad you are so quiet, though I 
am not against contending, and that steadfastly for the 
Truth, and the most holy faith, against the opposers of it ; 
yet sometimes, in some cases, there may be a time to forbear, 
and wait with patience, the judgment of Truth. If it have 
leaden heels, it will have iron hands, and the hypocrite 
cannot escape, nor the sinner stand in the congregation of 
the righteous. I have been lately at Hertford; Truth goes 
on, and the Lamb is conquering in many hearts, and will 
have the victory. We are in hopes to get Robert Huberstie 
and James Waithman, two prisoners in Lancaster, out of 
gaol. I have a letter from John Richardson, dated Lynn, 
in New England, the 22nd of the 7th mo. last; among 
other things, he gives account of a strange thing which 
appears in New England ; his account is as followeth : — 
" There is lately a strange sort of thing grown up in this 
country, in many places ; it springs up in one night about a 
quarter of a yard above the ground, as white as snow, with 
a thing about the upper parts somewhat like shoulders; 
there is a thing like a cap, which with the aforesaid covering 
seems to hang loose ; the shoulders have somewhat like a 
laced vail upon them. I with many others have seen it ; 
but that which is as much admirable is, the stink of it, 
which is so nauseous that I think nothing ever exceeded 
it for a bad smell. It is by several, compared with the 
smell of man's flesh after he is dead, sometime buried, and 
then taken up again; the sight of it doth terrify some, 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 183 

and some are putting away tlieir top-knots and finery, 
especially in Salisbury, in the east part of that country; 
but others count it as witchcraft, and so harden their 
hearts thus far." John Richardson is in health, though 
he has travelled hard. My wife's and my dear love to 
thee ; give mine to thy dear wife. I remember your great 
love and shall be glad to see you both here. We are 
very thankful of the safe arrival of our dear friend, William 
Penn ; it is the Lord's mercy who is gracious to him and 
us also. Farewell, 

I am thy friend and brother in the Truth, 

John Tomkins." 



" London, the 17th of 4th mo. 1703. 

Dear friend, Wm. Ellis ; 

I have thine to me of the 15th of 3rd month, 
1703 ; it came to my hand before the Yearly Meeting ; and 
I find thy bishop-like care for us, and desire that the Lord 
may help his people, and judge that which would appear to 
trouble or afflict that life which he hath given to rule ; but 
we should have esteemed it a manifest token of thy care, if 
thou hadst come thyself, and contributed to the lifting up 
of Moses' hand in the time of battle, as thou wert pleased to 
phrase it ; but we have the charity to believe that thou wast 
concerned in travail of spirit for the prosperity of Zion, at 
the time when others here were actually concerned, in a 
peaceable spirit, to contend for the simplicity of our tes- 
timony to the precepts of Christ. And the Lord did 
comfort his people, and things were well gone through in 
several respects ; for the particulars I refer thee to those 
who were present. God did bless our meeting with plenty 
of the water of life, which sweetened all, and kept things 



184 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

cool and quiet. Our hearts were comforted in the love of 
God and fellowship of the brethren ; and counsel was given, 
and doctrine dropped as the dew upon the tender herbs. I 
hope what was done will have a tendency to the furtherance 
of charity and peace in the Church. Come and see us and 
help us, for we have now much work and few hands to 
do it; but however, remember to pray for us, that our 
labours in every respect may be blessed for the benefit of 
the Church, that an addition may be given us, and many 
children may be yet born to the Church of Christ ; for the 
promise is, that more shall be her children than the children 
of the married wife, — the Jewish Church, which consisted of 
the line of Abraham. But now God will not only be known 
in Judah and his Name be great in Israel, but he hath 
promised that all the ends of the earth shall see his salvation. 
Dear friend, pray for the hastening of the day, that all flesh 
may see his glory, that he may " glorify the house of his 
glory." Give my dear love to thy wife ; I wish her perfect 
recovery ; my wife remembers her and thee. Your folks 
have been pleased to choose me for one of your County 
Correspondents ; it was their love ; I want not employment, 
but wherein I can, I shall not be backward to serve them. 
Let me hear from thee, and when we may expect to see 
thee ; I have not material of other matters to advise thee of, 
but in great sincerity am 

Thy real friend and brother, 

John Tomkins." 

John Taylor, who is noticed in the following letter, was 
convinced of the soundness of the Christian principles of 
Priends by George Pox, in 1656 : he soon felt constrained 
in spirit to preach the Truth which he had received, and in 
165 7 } when only about twenty years of age, he went on that 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 185 

service into the West of England. Subsequently lie 
travelled much in the work of the ministry in America and 
the West Indies, as well as in Great Britain, Ireland and 
Holland. He resided several years in Barbadoes, but sub- 
sequently returned to England, and settled at York as a 
sugar refiner. Here, as well as in several places, in the 
course of his apostolic journeys, he suffered imprisonment 
for the testimony of Jesus. He died at York in 1708, aged 
about 70 years. 

William Wyld, who is also mentioned in this letter, was 
born at Oldham, in Lancashire, in 1648. He joined the 
Society of Eriends, became a minister among them, and 
partook of the sufferings to which they were exposed in 
maintaining a testimony against the anti-christian impost of 
Tithes. He was imprisoned upwards of a year and a half 
on this account at Lancaster, where he afterwards settled. 
He sometimes travelled in the work of the ministry in the 
neighbouring counties ; and when he had accomplished 
these services, returned to his calling, which is mentioned in 
a Testimony respecting him as having been humble and 
laborious. He died in great peace in 1729, aged 81 years. 

"London, the 16th of 7th mo. 1703 

Dear Wi. and Alice Ellis ; 

In true love I heartily salute you both, desiring 
that yon and we, and all that uprightly love the Lord, may 
be preserved by him, growing in the Truth, and in the 
knowledge of his glorious power reigning amongst us ; that 
while we are here, in the sense of life, we may magnify his 
holy Name ; and when we are summoned from hence, that 
we may be received of Him who was our blessed example, 
and is our head and lawgiver, to whom belong dominion and 



186 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

praise, world without end. Amen. The Lord be praised 
for all our mercies, and for preserving us from every thing 
that would render us unfit for his service, that in his blessed 
work we may go on to glorify his Name, and show forth his 
power and goodness to the children of men ; that many with 
us may taste how good the Lord is, and how good it is to 
serve Him to whom dominion and praise is due ; and to 
him be it rendered by us all, henceforth and for ever. My 
dear love to John Taylor and wife, William Wyld and 
friends, Thomas Aldam, Jeremiah Grimshaw, Aaron Atkin- 
son, and all that ask after 

Thy loving friend, 

Theodore Eccleston." 



The following Testimony of Jeremiah Grimshaw, of Eawden, 
who is mentioned in the above letter, and in several 
other parts of tins volume, is from the pen of his brother, 
John Grimshaw, who also was a minister : 

" Jeremiah Grimshaw was born of religious parents, who 
brought him up in the fear of the Lord; and when he 
arrived at the age of 18 or 19 years, he zealously followed 
after those preachers who were accounted the most eminent, 
but he did not experience that satisfaction he was in pursuit 
of, until he became convinced of the saving efficacy of divine 
Light and Grace, through the effectual ministry of George 
Gregson and Robert Lodge; and then he gave up in 
obedience to that powerful Word, which inwardly awakened 
him, and which wrought powerfully to the bringing him into 
the ministry, — which was living and convincing. About 
this time there was a merciful visitation extended towards 
his neighbours ; and through him, as an instrument, divers 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 187 

were brought to the knowledge of the Truth. In the early 
part of his life, he visited sundry parts of England, and also 
went through Ireland in the service of Truth, to his own 
satisfaction and the strength of the brethren. In the latter 
years of his life, he had to pass through divers afflictions ; 
yet, through the Lord's mercy, he was enabled to perform 
several religious visits, to the comfort of his friends. He 
departed this life on the 12th of the 8th month, 1721, aged 
about sixty-nine years ; and we doubt not has attained to 
that rest, which is prepared for those who hold out in faith- 
fulness to the end/'' 



John Bowron, the writer of the following short letter, 
resided at Cotherstone, on the northern border of Yorkshire : 
he joined Eriends about 1653, when about 26 years of 
age, being convinced of the soundness of their principles, 
by the preaching of George Eox and James Nayler. Soon 
after this he received a gift in the ministry, and travelled 
into Scotland, preaching the Gospel in the streets and 
markets. He visited this part of the British dominions 
several times, and in 1656 went to Barbadoes, where he 
had many meetings : he then sailed for South America, 
and travelled in Guiana and other parts, preaching by an 
interpreter to the natives, who regarded him as " a good 
man come from far to preach the white man's God." From 
thence he returned by Barbadoes to England, and continued 
his gospel labours. He also visited Ireland many times ; 
and after all his journeyings and several imprisonments 
for his testimony to the Truth as it is in Jesus, he died 
in 1704, in the house in which he was born, being 77 years 
of age, and full of peace. — See Piety Promoted, Part III. 



188 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OE 

"Cotherstone, 1703. 
Dear eriend, Wm. Ellis ; 

My love unto thee in the Truth of Almighty 
God, and to thy wife and Friends thereabout. I have 
received the things thou sentest me; the Lord God of 
heaven and earth reward thee for thy token of love ; they 
will do me great service, for which I cannot make thee 
satisfaction ; but I hope the Lord will not forget to reward 
thee. I have a great desire to see thee and thy wife before 
I die ; but how it may fall out, that I leave to the Lord. I 
have been very weakly, but I hope I may yet travel a little 
in the service of the Truth. Friends here would be glad to 
see thee. William Kay and Jonathan Kay, as also Peter 
Atkinson, send their kind love to thee and thy wife. This 
with my dear love to thee and thy wife and Friends in the 
unchangeable Truth, is from 

Thy loving brother in the Truth, 

John Bowron." 



Isaac Alexander, the writer of the following letter, was 
born in 1680 : he joined the Society of Friends when about 
fourteen years of age, and became a minister in his seven- 
teenth year : he took apostolic journeys into various parts of 
Great Britain and Ireland, labouring diligently in the exer- 
cise of his gift ; and died at the house of James Wilson, at 
Aba, near Kendal, in 1705, aged 25 years. In this letter 
he mentions the following persons : 

Thomas Pearce, who was the son and successor of Eichard 
Pearce, an apothecary of Limerick, and the first person that 
received Friends in that place. The magistrates publicly 
forbade the people to buy anything of Friends, particularly of 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 189 

Richard Pearce ; and the prohibition rested upon him for 
several months ; but he regained his business and followed 
it with reputation. The meetings of Friends were held at 
his house for many years. — See Butty's History of Friends 
in Ireland. Quarto edition, page 97. 

George Rook, a native of Cumberland, and a carpenter 
by trade : he joined Friends when about twenty, and became 
a minister when about twenty-five years of age. He accom- 
panied Thomas Trafford, noticed in page 10 of this volume, 
in a religious visit to Friends in the north of England, and 
was afterwards imprisoned in Durham Gaol, for refusing to 
break the command of Christ, "Swear not at all." He 
laboured in the Gospel in various parts of Great Britain 
and Ireland, and settled in Dublin in ] 737 : he died in 
1742, aged 90. — See Biographical Notices of Friends in 
Ireland. 

John Acroyd or Ecro)d, who resided at Briercliffe, near 
Burnley, in Lancashire : he is described as an able minister 
of the Gospel, a steady and zealous labourer therein, a good 
example to the flock of Christ, and a patient sufferer for the 
testimony of a good conscience. He died in 1721. — See 
a testimony from Marsden Monthly Meeting, concerning 
John Ecroyd, the son of this Friend, in " A Collection of 
Testimonies," published in 1760. 

Lawrence King, who is likewise mentioned in other 
parts of this volume : he belonged to Salterforth Meeting, 
and travelled much in the work of the ministry in Great 
Britain and Ireland, between 1697 and 1720. From 
1721 to 1724 he was engaged as the companion of John 
Fothergill in a religious visit to North America and some of 
the West India Islands. It seems probable that he died soon 



190 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OE 

after returning from this visit, as no notice of him as a 
minister occurs after this time ; but as there are the deaths 
of other Friends of this name on the record of Settle 
Monthly Meeting, without any particulars by which this 
individual can be identified among them, it is not easy to 
determine the period of his decease. 

"Sedburgh, the 15th of 10th mo. 1703. 

Dear Friend, Wm. Ellis; 

"Whom my soul doth dearly love, and tenderly 
salute, in the sweet fellowship of the Gospel of peace, with 
thy dear and true-hearted wife ; for I can truly say, I have 
had you both often in remembrance, with real comfort and 
gladness of heart, in a thankful consideration of how often 
I have been comforted in your good company ; for my very 
soul was knit and united to you the very first time I was at 
your house ; and the same nearness I have felt increasingly 
to remain in my heart towards you, ever since, both when 
we have been together, and many times, when outwardly 
separated one from another. And that in the living, feeling 
enjoyment of this hearty spiritual nearness and heavenly 
Gospel fellowship, we may be preserved increasingly while 
we have a day on this side the grave to spend, is what my 
soul desires and secretly longs for. And now, my dearly 
beloved friend, the chief reason of my now writing to thee 
is, to give to thee and thy good wife, whose exercises are oft 
before me, the remembrance of endeared love, having an 
opportunity, and being rather covetous of a free-hearted 
correspondence with thee in things relating to the Truth 
and the affairs of the Church of Christ, in the exercise of 
which, I know thy soul is engaged night and day; and 
which exercise and labour of love, the Lord thy God that 
hath been thy strength, thy bow, and thy song, hath never 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 191 

forgot, nor hath he been backward to reward thee richly 
into thy bosom. Dear William, I speak without flattery, I 
know thou hast been a great strength and help to many of 
Zion's exercised and travailing children ; yea, thy horn hath 
oft been filled with the best oil, and thy box with healing 
balm ; as well as the sword of the eternal Spirit and Word 
of Life given thee, which is sharper than any two-edged 
sword in thy hand, to hew in pieces that Agag that hath 
been a hindrance to the Israel of God in their journey, and 
an occasion of causing the anointed of God to err in the 
performance of their duty. Dear William, I hope that 
thou, in the reading of these few simple lines, wilt feel 
what I aim at. Now by these, I give thee to understand, 
that since I parted with our dearly beloved friend and 
esteemed Elder, William Edmundson, at York, I have 
received several very comfortable letters from him, in all 
or most of which he desires to be remembered to thee; 
also from Thomas Pearce and George Eook, I have re- 
ceived several ; and they do the same. I had on Seventh- 
day last, one from William, and one from George Eook, 
and George Eook wonders what thou art doing, and that 
thou should have so long forgot them that so often think 
of thee with delight ; he says, they long to hear that thou 
and I are coming together, to give them another visit. I 
have been to visit Eriends in Cumberland ; they are generally 
pretty well, and they long to see thee there ; many of them 
had their very dear love to thee, and many Eriends in our 
meeting desire to be heartily remembered to thee and to thy 
wife. I am now going to visit Eriends in Bishoprick, 
and the east of your county, and therefore am heartily 
earnest that thou mayst have me in remembrance when it 
is well with thee. I also have account from Ireland, that 
things there are generally pretty well, and that discipline is 
closely maintained and carried on in great quietness, and 



192 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

that Truth's testimony is over all gainsayers ; also William 
Edmundson is hearty ; but old age creeps on him apace, 
but his understanding is as strong as ever : he has got a 
fall, by winch he hath broken a rib, but he mends : he 
writes largely of the affairs of Friends. Dear Thomas 
Trafford is buried; he died under a surgical operation. 
John Acroyd and Lawrence King got to the Half-year's 
Meeting ; they had a heavenly opportunity at this meeting : 
Friends in Ireland are generally well. I have received a 
letter from Samuel Bownas, from Philadelphia; he had a 
good voyage, was nine weeks at sea, and had his health very 
well. Being in haste, I shall conclude with my heart full 
of true brotherly and abiding love to thyself and wife, and 
Friends that ask of me. 

Thy true friend and exercised brother in the Truth, 

Isaac Alexander/' 



Airton, 1703. 

Kind friend, Nathan Newby ; 

Having opportunit} 7 , I thought fit to let thee 
know, that I got well to England, through the great mercy 
of God; and although I went through abundance of 
exercises after I left you, yet the Lord's hand carried me 
through them all, and great was my comfort at my return. 
And now, dear friend, know this, thou art often in my 
remembrance, although we be far separated ; and the labour 
of love that was raised in my heart for your welfare is not 
forgot by me. Though I know that there is a sincere 
remnant amongst you, yet I do know that the Seed, that 
is the heir of the kingdom of God, was too low in many ; 
and that caused a deeper travail npon my mind. In some 
degree my desire was answered, and now it is my advice 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 193 

to thee, that thou, with all that love the Truth, may labour to 
bring the Truth up over all looseness and improper liberty ; 
and that all be advised to let the time past be sufficient in 
these things, and that misspent time be redeemed, through 
true repentance, and amendment of life, and renewing of love 
to God and one to another ; and that all Friends be advised 
to meet together, and to wait on the Lord to fill their 
hearts. If any be opened by the power of Truth, to 
speak a word one to another, be sure that Friends be ad- 
vised to be tender, that such may grow to the degree of 
strong men ; and I desire that all Friends may keep their 
Monthly Meetings in the name of the Lord Jesus; and 
that Friends in his power may judge down all looseness in 
conversation; and that none may go out, to take wives 
nor hus*bands, nor to bring mixed marriages to be accom- 
plished amongst you; for such things brought the dis- 
pleasure of the Almighty God upon people in old time; 
and the church was corrupted by these things, as the 
Scripture declares in many places. And let Friends wait in 
God's wisdom to keep the old ranting spirit out of your assem- 
blies ; and let all who may be concerned in Truth's affairs 
truly seek the honour of God and the promotion of his 
Truth, and not the honour of their own name. And I wish 
that all Friends may train up their children in the fear of 
God ; and that while they are young, they may be trained 
up in the reading of the Scriptures, that these may be in- 
grafted in their memory, so that when they grow to riper age, 
and their understandings are opened by the Word of Truth, 
they may know the profit of the Scriptures, and may in 
heart and soul bless the Lord that put into the hearts of 
their parents to do these things for them. Seeing it was 
the Lord's counsel to Israel to do these things, it cannot 
but be profitable to his people in our age And let all 
Friends that have negroes to their servants, be truly careful 

o 



194 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OP 

of them, and do to them as you would have them to do to 
you if you were as they are. There was a secret fear upon 
me in several places in my travel, lest Friends' children 
should suffer hurt in not being kept to employment as they 
ought to be, because negroes are provided to labour for 
them. Having thus eased my mind, I leave these things to 
thee, and commit thee to Him that is able to keep thee to 
the end, and rest with dear love to thee and thy wife, 

Thy real friend, 

"Wm. Ellis." 

Thomas Rodman, to whom the following letter is addressed, 
is spoken of, by Thomas Chalkley, as a man of the first rank 
on Rhode Island. 



"London, 1704. 

My DEARLY & WELLBELOVED FRIEND, THOMAS RODMAN ; 

Having this opportunity, I was willing to give 
thee a few lines, that thereby thou mayst know, that although 
I be far off thee, yet thou with many others are often in my 
memory ; and in this remembrance my heart is comforted 
with lively enjoyment ; and my hearty prayers have been and 
are for your safety and growth in the most precious Truth ; 
and that many may be affected by the beauty of it ; and that 
all Mends may grow in zeal for it arid love to it; and that 
a labour may be exercised to promote its testimony above all 
that would oppose it. For by the power of the Truth have 
many sons been brought from far, and many poor as from 
the dunghill, to dwell in fertile situations both outwardly 
and inwardly, the sense of which often brings my mind low, 
and a secret holy fear fills me at times, lest I should in my 
ways be forgetful. Also it is a secret trouble to my mind to 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLTS. 195 

see any that have come to sit under the shadow of the wing 
of Truth, grow high and elevated in their minds, and forget- 
ful of what and where they were once, and what abundance 
of iniquity hath been passed by, and to think good of them- 
selves for what is done for them, as though this was some of 
their own works, and that therefore they must be honoured. 
But time hath declared, that upon this rock many have been 
broken ; and I desire it may be a caution to all to remain 
under the conduct of the Truth, and to walk as becomes a 
people that hath been brought from a barren land into a 
pleasant soil. And now, dear friend, seeing that God hath 
shewn mercy unto thee, and given thee a good understand- 
ing, I desire that thou mayst labour to stir up the pure mind 
amongst Friends, and that all be advised to keep and increase 
unity and concord, which was precious of old, and is amiable 
in our time ; and in this, young men will entreat Elders, and 
Elders will be prevailed with ; and in the same, Elders will 
encourage the younger in every good word and work. And 
I wish that that which would spread reports of weaknesses 
abroad, to disadvantage, may be kept out from Eriends, so 
that righteousness may spring up and Truth may grow like 
a rose, and the glory and perfume thereof may fill your 
meetings. This is the desire of 

Your real friend, 

Wm. Ellis/' 



o 2 



196 LITE AND CORRESPONDENCE OP 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Notice of William Biles. Letters from "William Biles and Nathan Newby. 
Notice of John Estaugh. Letter from Francis Tomes. Notice of 
Thomas Thompson and letter from him. Notice of Josiah Langdale. 
Letter from John Tomkins. Notices of Henry Gouldney and Ann 
"Wilson. Letter from Henry Gouldney. Notices of John Fothergill 
and "William Armistead. Letter to Richard Johns. Letters from 
"William Armistead, John Rodman, and Thomas Aldam. Notice of 
Sir John Rhodes, and letter from him. 

William Biles, the writer of the following letter, is 
described by Proud in his History of Pennsylvania, Yol. I. 
page 237, as a preacher among the Quakers, and as being 
among the first settlers ; and to have taken up land under 
Governor Andros, of New York, prior to William Penn's 
grant of the province. He appears to have settled in 
Pennsylvania about 1681, and to have resided near the 
Lower Palls of the Delaware, in Bucks County; and to 
have been elected a member of William Penn's first Council, 
in 1683. He is said to have been a very useful person both 
in a civil and religious capacity. 

"Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania, 1699. 

Dear friend, Wm. Ellis ; 

In a measure of that universal Spirit of love 
and life which it hath pleased the Lord to visit us withal, 
by which Spirit we shall be and are near and dear one unto 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 197 

another, so that neither sea nor land can prevent the Row- 
ings forth of it through the loving kindness of a tender 
Father, my spirit hath often remembered the refreshing 
seasons we have had with thee when present with us. 
It was the mercy of a tender Father, never I hope to be 
forgotten. In a measure of this Spirit my soul salutes thee 
at this time, with all the called and chosen of God, desiring 
that that Arm of eternal power that hath been stretched 
forth for the gathering of us, and hath made us a people 
that were not a people, might be still with us, to lead, 
conduct and preserve us, so that that great Name by winch 
we have been called, might be more and more exalted in the 
earth, and many more might be gathered unto it, so that the 
gathered of God might be many in this the day of his 
power. I left my wife and family pretty well when I came 
from home ; she desired me to remember her kind love unto 
thyself and wife, and Friends in your parts. We were both 
glad to hear of thy safe arrival at home ; my wife talks of 
coming to see you, but how it may be upon that account I 
shall at present leave unto the ordering hand of the Lord ; 
the voyage is great and she but weakly in body. Friends at 
present, through the mercy of the Lord, are generally well, 
both in this province and in West Jersey. I was lately at 
Croswicks and Burlington. Thy old companion, Samuel 
Jennings, and his wife and- children are well; his two 
daughters are married since we went hence. Our Governor, 
Penn, and his wife are well ; he has had a son born since 
he came hither. Edward Shippen and his wife Rebecca are 
well, and desire to be remembered unto thee. Since thou 
wast here, it hath pleased the Lord to visit this town, and 
many of our friends, as well as others, are removed, whom I 
am well satisfied the Lord hath taken to himself; yet we 
cannot but lament our loss of them ; but we must submit 
unto the hand of the Almighty in all these things ; knowing 



198 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OP 

right well, that all things shall work together for good unto 
such as love and fear the Lord. I believe thou hast heard 
of the long passage of a ship lately arrived here, and of the 
loss there was of many of the passengers at sea, and after 
they came on shore. I think it to be a great piece of 
indiscretion in the undertakers, to suffer so many people to 
be thronged together in one ship ; it was enough to breed a 
disease amongst them ; and if any should incline to come 
hither for the time to come, my advice is, never to come so 
many in one ship ; for I look upon the coming of so many 
together in that ship, to be a great cause of their loss. I 
have not much to add, save kind love to thee once more, 

Prom thy loving friend, 

Wm. Biles/' 

"Prom the Southern bank of Nancemund, 1701. 
Dear eriend, Wm. Ellis ; 

This is to let thee know, that I received thy 
letter, by our wellbeloved friend, John Richardson ; and was 
very glad to hear that thy desire was answered, and that 
thou wast brought home, to thy great comfort. The con- 
sideration of the contents of thy letter hath been very much 
on my heart ; and it is matter of joy to me, that thou, with 
many more of the Lord's servants, art made to remember us 
in this poor land ; for indeed we are a poor people ; yet the 
Lord is rich in mercy to them that seek him, can a remnant 
of us truly say. Loving friend ! it is with me a little to 
give thee some account how it is with me : I have been for 
two years past, concerned to bear a public testimony for 
my Qod, which hath been the occasion of sore travail 
to me, by reason of the hard dealing and great opposing that 
I have had, from some that thou hadst a great sense of when 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 199 

thou wast with us ; and this, with the buffetting of Satan, 
hath many a time brought me very low, and hath brought 
an exercise upon me which I am not able to express ; none 
have I had to fly to but the Lord alone, who has been and 
is a present help in time of trouble ; he hath been my great 
succourer. Praise be returned to him for the same ! The 
consideration of these things doth break my heart at this 
very time. I am not able to let thee understand what 
I have passed through since I saw thee ; and I desire thee 
to sympathize with me ; and O that I could have a time 
with thee, if it cost me the travelling some hundreds of 
miles ! Dear Friend, think on me, and let thy requests be 
to the Lord for me, who I know hears his own seed. John 
Richardson was well about five weeks since ; I parted with 
him at Edward Thomas's at the Yearly Meeting ; he hath 
been very helpful to me ; he desired me to remember his 
dear love to thee and Friends, and to let you know you are 
often in his mind. The two Eriends were not with him, 
but were gone to the northward; there is a young man 
with him who came over with them, and who lives in the 
south part of England. Eriends here are generally well, 
and were glad to hear of thee. "We have our meeting 
quiet ; people are very desirous of hearing the Truth sounded 
forth, and many are under convincement. Thomas Page's 
love is to thee; Agnes Wilson, with several others, have 
their love to thee. So loving friend, I have in some sort 
given thee to know how it is with me, and with us, and 
should be glad to hear from thee, and I pray thee let me 
hear as often from thee as may be : glad was I to have these 
lines from thee : and I hope to take the good advice given 
by thee. I showed thy letter to several Eriends, and they 
were glad of it. I must conclude and rest thy unfeigned 
friend in the Truth, desiring nothing so much as the pros- 
perity of the blessed Truth of our Lord; and to him I 



200 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

commit thee and myself, desiring that we may always be 
guided and ordered by his divine hand. Mine and my 
wife's dear love to thee. 

Nathan Newby." 

John Estaugh, who is noticed in the following letter, was 
born at Kelvedon in Essex, in ]676: he joined Eriends 
when about 17 years of age, and became a minister when 
about 18 : he paid religious visits to the North of England 
and Scotland previously to 1700, when he visited North 
America. In this country he married, and settled at Had- 
donfield in New Jersey : he afterwards visited Eriends in 
England, Ireland, New England, and some of the West 
India Islands. When in the Island of Tortola, in 1742, his 
companion in the work of the ministry, John Cadwallader, 
died. Soon after his death, John Estaugh was taken ill, and 
in a few days he died also. John Estaugh is described in a 
Testimony from Haddonfield Monthly Meeting, as a humble 
minded, exemplary Eriend, of a solid and grave deportment, 
well becoming a minister of Christ. 

"1701. 
Dear friend, Wm. Ellis, 

Thine I received from the hand of John 
Richardson, a blessed memorial. These come to let thee 
know of our welfare, and of the increase of Truth amongst 
us ; many are gathered in, and I hope the Lord has many 
many more to gather. Blessed be the Lord ! we feel his 
presence amongst us ; and his heart-breaking power in the 
midst of us in our assemblies many times ; but indeed we 
are not without exercises many times ; but blessed be the 
Lord our God, the Truth reigns over all the gainsayers ! 
Two of thy countrymen were here, which was great joy and 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 201 

comfort to us, John Richardson and John Estaugh. We 
had four or five meetings with them in our country, and the 
power of the Lord was such, that it melted the meetings, 
both white and black, to the astonishment of many. I hope 
the Lord will reward them for their labour of love. I 
showed several Friends thy letter ; they are glad to hear 
from thee, and Gabriel Newby's and several other Friends' 
love is to thee ; so with mine and my wife's dear love to 
thee and all Friends, though so far asunder, I take my leave 
of thee, 

And bid thee Farewell ! 

Francis Tomes/' 



Thomas Thompson, the writer of the following letter, was 
a native of the East-Riding of Yorkshire, but resided at 
Saffron Walden, in Essex : he became a minister among 
Friends when about twenty-four years of age, and travelled 
in the exercise of his gift in Great Britain, Ireland and North 
America. He died in 1727, and a short time before his 
departure, he adopted a declaration like that of the apostle 
Paul, saying, " I have fought a good fight ; I have finished 
my course. Henceforth is laid up for me a crown of glory, 
which God the righteous Judge shall give me at the last 
day ; and not to me only, but to those who love his ap- 
pearance." — See Piety Promoted, Part IX. 



"New England, 1703. 
Dear Wm. Ellis ; 

A letter of thine bearing date about when we 
left England, coming lately to my hand, the good advice 
therein contained to us all, I could not but take notice of 



202 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

more especially, because I have a certain knowledge, through 
the mercy of God, of the spirit and life from whence it came, 
and therefore could not be easy but make some reply there- 
unto, with due acknowledgment to the Lord our God, who 
hath raised supplications in the hearts of his faithful servants 
on our behalf, which I do sincerely desire may continue. 
As to my own particular, I can say, I had never more 
need of the prayers of faithful brethren than now; and 
surely thy spirit hath been often with me in these wilderness 
countries, and thy memory, with the savour thou hast left 
behind thee in these parts, is sweet to the faithful in Christ ; 
among whom I have been wonderfully favoured, in the feeling 
of his glorious power, who is Almighty God, which hath won- 
derfully shone over meetings, to the gladness of the hearts of 
the upright. To give account in writing of particulars, 
would be too tedious; only I shall give a hint of New 
England, and Rhode and Long Islands, where my service hath 
chiefly lain as yet ; though some glorious meetings we have 
had in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and East and West Jersey, 
but have made little stay in these parts. In New England, 
I visited several meetings seven or eight times over, and am 
not yet clear of that country. Upon Rhode Island, I hear 
is a young generation, that is coming zealously up for the 
Truth ; and the Lord is with them, in whose name and power 
I have sometimes been made to thrash the mountains that 
stood in their way and the Truth's way ; and many a grapple 
in spirit, I have had with them ; but the Lord hath hitherto 
preserved and borne up over all ; and through his great love, 
I am well in body and spirit, and my heart, I can say in 
humility, is strong for him. Upon Long Island I was 
greatly concerned to promote discipline ; for they are short 
in that, though there is an innocent people among them, and 
not many tall cedars are there to be met with. Since the 
other side was written, we have had a large and glorious 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 20o 

Yearly Meeting here ; and indeed we may say, The love of 
God is very large to his people here and everywhere. That 
which is wanting is on our parts, viz. a close walking with 
Him who is the God of the living, exercised, bowed down 
souls, and who love those that walk in true humility before 
him. In this frame of mind the Lord for ever keep us ! 
that so the work which he hath concerned us in, may be 
gone through to the glory of his great Name, and the com- 
fort of our own souls. And dear friend ! let me be remem- 
bered by thee in thy nearest approaches to the Lord, in the 
feeling of whose divine power my soul salutes thee with thy 
dear wife, and bids thee dearly Farewell ! 

From thy true friend, 

Thomas Thompson." 



Josiah Longdale, mentioned in this letter, was from 
Bridlington : he visited America as a minister in 1700, and 
again in 1714 ; and in 1723 he embarked with his family, 
with the intention of settling there j but he was taken ill soon 
after sailing, and died on the passage, making a peaceful 
close. Some time afterwards his widow became the wife of 
Samuel Preston. — See American Memorials, page 118. 



"London, the 4th of 2nd mo. 1704. 

Dear emend, Wm. Ellis ; 

T have thy letter dated 25th of 1st mo. last, 
by which I understand that John Richardson will pay the 
£40 to the Thompson's family; but I am sorry to hear of a 
bad disaster which hath befallen them, by a fire in the town ; 
it is a sore blow upon the poor ancient people in their old 
age, and the poor wife of Thomas Thompson, now that her 



204 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OE 

husband is remote from her. I saw a letter that came this 
week from Antigua or Nevis, dated about six weeks ago, 
giving account that Thomas Thompson and Josiah Long- 
dale, were at that time in that Island. Josiah purposed to 
go to Jamaica, but Thomas Thompson designed to return 
home from Antigua, so that by next shipping we may expect 
him. It is much surprise to me seeing he has staid so long, 
that he should leave Josiah alone at last ; but it is time he 
was at home. I perceive by thine that Jeremiah Grimshaw, 
Thomas Aldam, and John Fothergill will come up to the 
meeting with another Friend ; I hope that Friend is thyself. 
I should be glad to see thee, and would invite thee to my 
house, for quarters ; but our friend, Francis Plumstead, tells 
me that he has invited thee already to his house, since thy 
landlord, James Tatham, died ; so I am forbid to covet my 
neighbour's property. Dear William, my heart is toward 
the willing in Israel, who offer themselves freely among 
the people, and I remember thee at this present time in 
the love of Christ Jesus, wherein we have had fellowship, 
and taken sweet counsel together. Come and see us, and be 
partaker with us, of that joy and gladness of soul, which we 
trust the Lord will fill us with, when he brings us together 
again. I am straitened for time, so must conclude in true 
love, 

Thy true friend and brother, 

John Tomkins." 

Henry Gouldney, the writer of the following letter, resided 
in White Hart Court, Lombard- street, London. It was at 
his house, in 1690, that George Fox died. He seems to 
have used the term Landlord, in reference to James Tatham, 
in the same sense as that in which it is used in the previous 
letter, applying it to the person who hospitably entertained 
William Ellis when he happened to be in London. 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 205 

Ann Wilson, noticed in the following letter, was probably 
the same, that about eight years before, by a simple com- 
munication in the ministry, when at Brigflats Meeting near 
Sedbergh in Yorkshire, on a religious visit, was instrumental 
in awakening Samuel Bownas to a religious life. — See Life 
of Samuel Bownas. 

"London, 8th of the 2nd mo. 1704. 

Dear eriend, Wm. Ellis j 

The present circumstances of trade are such 
as that I am sorry they will not answer, otherwise I should 
have desired a further correspondence on that subject, but 
that however shall not interpose with our better acquaintance, 
begun and held upon a more noble principle than that of 
outward interest. Thy honest landlord, James Tatham, is 
indeed gone ; and I doubt not, hath now a better and more 
enduring mansion. I should be glad to succeed him in the 
first, and I hope for a residence in the other ; for it is said in 
the Father's house there are many mansions ; and I question 
not that there will be room enough for the honest-hearted. 
Dear friend, I love thee for the sake of thy noble and hearty 
resolution, to serve in thy high and holy calling ; and it is 
thy great advantage that thy yoke-fellow is like minded and 
draws the same way, for this is not always the lot of faithful 
labourers; exercises are the common companions of their 
pilgrimage; but a second self helps to sweeten the bitter 
cup, as thy generous and cheerful wife doubtless very often 
does. Though I am not likely to see thee in the North this 
year, yet I am pleased we have the hope of having thee in 
the South, at our anniversary. Let not indifferent things 
hinder thee ; for I assure thee, the coming of the Lord's 
worthies at that season, besides the helping on of the 
business of the meeting, has a great service, as they come 



206 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

up in the life and beauty of the Truth, labouring that this 
may reign among us. The life and beauty of the Truth will 
give a lustre to all the affairs of Truth. Though the 
business must be done, and Friends exercise a care that the 
hedges be unbroken, yet that, without the glorious shining 
of the power of God will not be a sufficient inducement for 
Friends attending that assembly ; and I would not, with 
submission to the will of God, that an eclipse should come 
on that solemn occasion. But methinks sometimes that I 
observe obstructions in the way, so that the virtue of the 
Truth does not circulate as one could desire, considering the 
many vessels that seem to be filled with heavenly oil, and 
the water-pots that are divinely filled, and want to be running 
over, to refresh the souls of those that are thirsting after the 
refreshing streams thereof. Methinks there is a nature that 
is rather for damming up these streams, and is satisfied with 
the more puddled waters that will not tend to the cleansing 
of the camp of God. I am glad to hear Abraham Bawlinson 
came so well off at the assizes, for his family and the Truth's 
sake. Things among us are much as usual ; we have not of 
late had the visits of so many worthies as heretofore ; yet our 
dear Friend, William Penn, is among us and hath his share 
of service. Ann Wilson; that was here lately, visited us, 
and had a service to her own and Friends satisfaction. I 
am, with mine and my wife's dear love to thee and thine, 
and all Friends, 

Thy real friend, 

Henry Gouldney." 



John Fothergill, who is noticed in the following letter, 
and was the writer of a subsequent one in this volume, was 
born in Wensleydale in Yorkshire, in 1676 : he was brought 
up with great care by his parents, who had joined the 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 207 

religious society of Friends. He was attentive to the con- 
victions of the Holy Spirit upon his own mind from an early 
age, and under the constraining power of the love of Christ, 
became a minister of the Gospel when but a young man. 
In his twenty-second year he paid a religious visit to Scotland, 
and he subsequently visited various parts of Great Britain, 
Ireland, and America. He was about 30 years of age when 
he paid his first visit to America : he resided for some years 
at Knaresborough, where he died in 1744, aged 69 years. — 
See Memoirs of Samuel Fothergill ; also Piety Promoted, 
Part YIII. 

"William Armistead, the companion of John Fothergill, 
and the writer of two letters in this collection, appears 
only to have been twenty-five years of age when he went 
to America on a religious visit : he was a minister re- 
siding within Settle Monthly Meeting, and had previously 
visited some parts of Great Britain in this capacity. There 
is little recorded respecting him after his return from 
America; but he settled in London in 1712, and became 
one of the Correspondents of York Quarterly Meeting : 
he died of consumption on the 19th of 3rd month, 1731, 
aged 56 years. 



"Airton, 1704. 
To Eichaud Johns. 

By this know, that it hath been often in my 
mind to write to thee, but I have been prevented ; so having 
this opportunity, I was not willing to pass it by, but to let 
thee know that thou with many other Friends hast been and 
art often in my mind ; and in the remembrance of you I can 
say, my heart is often very much enlarged in love to you ; 
and great pleasure I have in thinking of you, and in the 



208 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

secret of my heart, I desire the growth of Truth and righteous- 
ness amongst you, and that many may be added to you, and 
that the life of our profession may be perfectly enjoyed, so 
that the desert may be as pools of water, and the inhabitants 
of the wilderness may sing for joy, because the Lord is risen 
to redeem his people by his holy arm, which has put on 
strength, and is certainly made bare in this our day. Dear 
Eriend, I cannot easily express my love to thee ; and when 
I think of the times we have been together by sea and land, 
and enjoyed that which is from everlasting and to everlasting, 
it much more abounds with desires for thy safety till the end 
come ; for I see the adversary is at work to hinder the com- 
pleting of the great work of salvation. If this come to hand 
thou mayst give as much of my kind and affectionate love to 
Eriends as thou seest meet, and to whom thou wilt. I have 
been about a year and a half sorely afflicted, and thought I 
should have gone before now, yet am able to stir a little 
about amongst Mends, by which I have great help ; but I 
cannot yet see that I shall be well again whilst I am here. 
Herewith come two Friends to visit you, John Eothergill 
and William Armistead. Though but young they are well 
approved of, and zealous, both in doctrine and discipline; 
men that I look for a great deal of good service out of, if 
they live ; and if they come, you may receive them as such. 
So with true and unfeigned love to thee and thy wife, I rest 

Thy true friend, 

Wm. Ellis." 



"London, 27th of 2nd mo. 1704. 
Dear friend, Wm. Ellis ; 

These lines are to let thee know that through 
the Lord's mercy and great goodness I am well in my health, 
as is also my companion, and pretty well in my mind, 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 209 

considering that many exercises attend me. Friends here are 
very kind and respectful to us ; but we have been so much 
in a hurry and cumber about getting forward, that we 
could not enjoy them to our satisfaction; however I am 
pretty easy in my mind in the main, hoping that the great 
and good God who hath concerned us in his great work, 
will go along with us, and attend us with his good Spirit, 
which is alone the help of his people in all trials and exer- 
cises ; and I can say, it is the deep travail of my soul that 
I may keep so near unto him, and lean so upon him, as 
that I may witness the brightness of his countenance shining 
in upon my soul, which is that alone in which I can truly 
rejoice. And dear William, let I pray thee, thy cry be unto 
the Almighty in my behalf, that he may stay my mind, and 
anchor and settle my thoughts, so firmly and steadfastly 
upon him, as that by his power I may be carried on to his 
glory, and my own soul's peace and satisfaction ; that if it 
be his will to bring me back again, it may be with sheaves 
in my bosom. We are, for anything we know, going out 
of this town this day towards the Downs, where the ship 
lieth, in expectation if the wind serve, to set forward on 
our journey or voyage, the 30th of this month. The 
fleet seems to be in great haste to be gone. We wrote 
a few lines to thee before, but have had no answer yet. 
We are likely, we hope, to go with an honest Friend 
who sails for Maryland. I am very desirous to hear from 
my friends, but have not as yet heard from any of them, 
which makes me a little wonder. My dear love is to 
thee and thy wife, and your family, and faithful Friends 
in general, and to my relations when thou hast opportunity. 

From thy truly loving friend, 

Wm. Armistead" 



210 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

The writer of the following letter is incidently mentioned 
by Samuel Bownas, page 82, edition 1846, as " a worthy 
Friend, John Eodman by name." 

"New York, 21st of 11th mo. 170* . 

Dear and esteemed friend, ¥m. Ellis ; 

In that love that is unchangeable, do I dearly 
salute thee, hoping and steadfastly believing, that the great 
God of mercy and love will be with thee in thy travail, 
for his Name's sake, and for the prosperity of his Church, 
in a glorious manner, to the great joy and comfort of 
those that truly love the Lord ; for I know from a living 
sense, that the Lord of the great harvest, even Jesus 
Christ, is with thee, and doth sweetly comfort and strengthen 
thee by his Spirit, to go forward ; and through his pure 
love, maketh hard things easy. O, magnified be his pure 
Name for ever, for he is worthy ! even Christ our Lord, 
"who is over all God blessed for ever." He hath, even 
in his holy body, showed us the example, enduring hard- 
ship for us, that he that hath perfected salvation for us, 
might fit us to be made partakers of it. Dear William, 
I may signify my dear unity with thee; for the Lord of 
all our mercies, I can with great assurance of spirit say, 
hath given me a living sense of his divine power that 
liveth in thee, which hath knit my spirit to thee; in 
which I have felt a rejoicing in humility before the Lord, 
in that which cometh from above, in which joy and life 
from God, though absent in body yet present in spirit, 
I felt encouragement in the sense of life, to say unto thee, 
Go forward in the Name of the Lord. My dear friend, 
Farewell ! The grace, mercy and power of God go with 
thee, and be thy strength and comfort and unspeakable 
joy; always remembering that without Him, we cannot 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 211 

do anything for his glory or our own good. William, pray 
unto the Lord for me, that I may walk Avorthy of the Lord's 
mercies, and be found a faithful steward, doing the will of 
the great God. My dear love to Friends, and more par- 
ticularly to those that have travelled amongst us, as thou 
hast opportunity. 

So rests thy well-wishing friend, 

John Rodman." 



< f Warmsworth, 20th of 10th mo. 1705. 

Esteemed eeiend, ¥m. Ellis ; 

My love in the unchangeable Truth doth 
hereby salute thee, with thy dear wife and the rest of faithful 
Friends; and by this thou mayest know, that both thy 
letters came to hand ; by which I understand that then thy 
exercises were great ; these, I desire the Lord in mercy, if it 
be his will, may abate, or however, sweeten with the enjoy- 
ment of his life-giving presence. this is that, my dear 
friend, that makes hard things easy, and bitter things sweet. 
He is the Physician of value who can cure all manner of 
diseases, both of body and mind ; those that know him can 
trust in him, hoping and patiently waiting for his salvation, 
believing him to be a God keeping covenant, and shewing 
mercy to a thousand generations of those that love and fear 
him, being near to help us when our outward man decays, 
by the renewing of our inward man. My dear friend, I do 
not write unto thee as to one that knows not these things ; 
but my heart being opened with the remembrance of his 
goodness, and a present sense thereof, I cannot but say, 
O that my soul, with the souls of his little ones, may for 
ever trust in the Lord ! that we may know Him that hath 
been with us in six troubles, to be with us also in the 

p2 



212 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

seventh ; for I see when we have done all, we have need of 
patience ; for as to the outward man, I have seen one event 
to the jnst and to the nnjust ; but blessed be the Lord, he 
is settling a remnant upon that Rock, against which the 
gates of hell cannot prevail. Again I dearly salute thee, my 
ancient friend, having always taken very kindly thy remem- 
brance of, and travail for me, either by writing or otherwise ; 
and methinks we have still as much need to seek the Lord 
one for another, and for his whole Church, as ever we had ; 
for we have an unwearied adversary, who goes about to 
deceive and devour. I had written sooner to thee, but had 
hopes to have seen thee at the Quarterly Meeting, if thy 
weakness did not hinder. There still continuing a difference 
betwixt R. Clayton and Friends of Derby, and being desired 
to be at their Quarterly Meeting, I am in a strait touching 
my visit to York, where I would have willingly been with the 
rest of my beloved friends, considering Truth's service in our 
county, and the great need there is of the peaceable wisdom, 
in which our true unity is preserved. If I be not there, I 
should be glad to hear of thy being there if the Lord enable 
thee. I have not room to enlarge, but committing thee with 
myself to the Lord our preserver. 

I remain thy friend and brother in the Truth, 

Thomas Aldam." 



Sir John Rhodes, Bart, the writer of the following letter, 
resided at Balber Hall, in Derbyshire, but belonged to 
the meeting at Handsworth Wooclhouse, near Sheffield. 
Martha Rhodes, his mother, with whom he resided, and 
whom Thomas Story styles " The old lady," of this family, 
appears to have adopted the principles of Friends at an early 
period, and to have suffered distraints in consequence, 
between 16 S3 and 1690. Her son, John, and one of her 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. ?J] 3 

daughters also became Friends ; the former is said to have 
become convinced of the Truth when very young, and to 
have embraced the same under the cross, forsaking all the 
honour of this world and the friendship of it, for that honour 
which is of God only, and the friendship and fellowship of the 
faithful and sanctified in Christ. Sir John Rhodes remained 
single to the end of Iris days and lived a retired life, which 
rendered the brightness of his talents less conspicuous than 
might otherwise have been the case. He died about 1746. — 
See Life of Thomas Story, fol. pages 90, 465, 684, 737. 

"Balber, in the Year 1705. 

Much esteemed friend, Wm. Ellis ; 

My dear love salutes thee for the Truth's 
sake, which hath made thee not only truly lovely, but greatly 
serviceable to the Church in our day : the Lord having 
honoured, thee with an eminent station therein, and endowed 
thee with the rich jewels of his treasury, that he hath been 
pleased to open and dispense to the children of men, in this 
age of the world. And it is not the least of thy ornaments, 
that thou art not lifted up with those distinguishing favours, 
because they are given thee and not merited by thee, for 
which my soul loves thee, and esteems thee above the great 
men of the earth ; and I could wish our outward habitations 
were nearer together, that I might have the privilege of thy 
desired and valued company, being sensible it would be 
much to my advantage in the better sort of things, in 
which I covet that my profiting may be, however things 
may succeed with me as to transitory enjoyments ; finding by 
a long experience that a habitation in the Truth is the 
greatest riches, and I hope I shall ever be of that mind ; for 
through mercy I see more of the emptiness and unsatisfac- 
toriness of the great things of this world, and of what her 



214 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

children love, than I have sometimes done, which often puts 
me in a travail, that I may be counted worthy through 
Christ, to obtain a mansion with the redeemed and beloved 
of God in eternal habitations, when the glories and honours 
here below will be at an end. Dear William, my heart 
abounds in love, but I must stop, and let thee know, that 
thy generous present came safe to hand, and was gratefully 
accepted in the love thou sent it in, but I was concerned 
that thou shouldest be at that charge, in bestowing a 
kindness upon me, that never did anything to deserve it at 
thy hands. I know not when I shall get to make my 
acknowledgments to thee at thy own house, and to see thy 
good wife, of whose excellency I have heard much ; for I am 
often not well, which prevents me from going far from 
home. I perceive it is thy lot also to meet with bodily 
exercises. I should be glad to hear it was otherwise with 
thee. As for me, I have found it good that I have these 
afflictions ; for they have taught me to number my days, and 
to apply my heart unto wisdom ; so that I may say, The 
Lord, in very faithfulness, has afflicted me, and made me to 
sit in the dust and mourn over Him whom I have pierced, 
and be in bitterness for it, that I might witness his great 
salvation and remission. I must conclude with dear love to 
thee and thy kind wife. I hope to remain 

Thy loving and obliged friend for the Truth's sake, 

John Bhodes/" 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 215 



CHAPTER XV, 



Letter from Francis Plumstead. Notice of Thomas Wilde. Letter from 
John Tomkins and others. Notices of John Blaikling and James 
Baines. Letter from William Edmundson. Notice of Samuel 
Bownas. Letter from Anthony Morris. Letter to Abraham Green. 
Letters from William Armistead and John Fothergill. 



"London, 23rd of 1st mo. 1706. 

Dear friend, Wm. Ellis ; 

I received thine, and was glad to hear of thy 
welfare, but it would have been an addition to my joy if 
thou hadst said one word in reply to my sincere invitation ; 
but if thou be more engaged in thy own affairs or pre- 
engagements, it shall not break my sincere love to thee, 
whilst I and thou keep in that Boot which was and is the 
life of my love to all the faithful flock of God. I have a 
great loss in the death of my neighbour, James Tatham ; he 
was a man I valued, living, but more now that he is dead ; 
and indeed I fear to value men too much whilst living, for 
fear of being betrayed by their weakness and instability. I 
having seen in measure (and thou perhaps more largely) the 
readiness with which men are apt to yield to temptations. 
George Keith would be great like his father Lucifer ; but he 
sought it not for God's sake, nor his glory's sake, but for 
his own self -honour ; and the Lord laid that honour in the 
dust. To go forward upon this subject would fill a sheet of 
paper. A word to the wise is sufficient. I could write 



£16 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OE 

much, but am not willing to commit what is in my heart to 
ink and paper, so shall reserve it till we have an opportunity 
to see one another, which I hope will be at the farthest, at 
Pentecost. I hope you will take, or have taken, care in 
your Quarterly Meeting, to appoint approved, tried, sound 
Friends, to attend the Yearly Meeting; also when you 
want any London Correspondents, not to choose till you 
have the judgment of sound, true men in London ; for I 
shall never forget what our revered friend William Edmund- 
son said, upon his sight into, and sense of, the service of the 
Meeting for Sufferings : he hardly thought himself fully 
qualified to be a member of it ; but when I consider what 
members some have chosen for their Correspondents, in this 
city, alas ! alas ! it hath grieved me deeper than I can 
mention ; but I hope it will be more carefully considered, 
as I doubt not thou art very sensible hereof; so it is not as 
a thought of blame upon thee. Thus with mine, and my 
wife's dear love to thee, thy dear wife and good friends, 

I remain thy very loving friend, 

Francis Plumstead." 



Thomas Wilde, one of the Friends mentioned in the 
following letter, belonged to Settle Monthly Meeting : he 
was born in 1649, and was convinced of the Truth as held 
in its simplicity and fulness by Friends, when about twenty- 
four years of age. Being then a tailor, and much engaged 
in ministering to the gratification of the vain mind by making 
garments, according to " the needless and superfluous 
fashions" of that day, he abandoned the chief part of his 
trade for conscience' sake, and betook himself to other 
business for a livelihood ; and herein, though never pos- 
sessed of affluence, he was blessed with a competency sufficient 
for his support. Not long after his convincement his mouth 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 217 

was opened in a public testimony as a minister, in a few 
words ; and in process of time he became an able minister of 
the Gospel; he was also very serviceable in the discipline of 
the church. His religious labours extended to various parts 
of England and Wales ; and he dwelt in deep humility 
under a reverent sense of the goodness and mercy of his God 
and Saviour. He peacefully u departed this life in great 
patience and stillness/' in 17 £^, being then in his eightieth 
year, and was interred in the Friends'' burial ground at 
Low Bent-ham. 



A Letter sent to William Ellis. 

"1706? 
Dear Friend, 

Thy letter we received, and have answered the 
same by the post ; but notwithstanding, we cannot forbear 
to acquaint thee, that the notice thou tookest of us in thy 
letter to Thomas Wilde, we take kindly ; and are engaged to 
thee for the regard thou hast to us at so remote a distance. 
We have had some company of the Eriends, viz. Thomas 
Wilde and John Eielden, and could have desired to have 
had more ; and should have taken it kindly if thou hadst 
recommended them to either John Tomkin's or Erancis 
Plumstead's house ; but however we are glad of their com- 
pany, and are now together at a friend's of thine and ours, 
viz. Thomas Cox's, whose kindness thou knowest. Truth 
prospers in tins city, and Eriends generally are w r ell ; and 
the Lord is good unto us ; and our heads are borne over all 
our exercises that we meet with. God's name is great in 
Israel, and his dwelling-place is in Zion : the shout of a 
King is in the assemblies of the righteous. Dear William, 
we often think of thee, and much desire thy company, that 
we may impart of our spiritual gifts one to another. Come 



218 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

and see us, and bring thy wife with thee ; we have heard of 
her faithfulness, love to the Truth, and diligence to serve 
the brethren ; bring her, that she may receive from us of 
the kindness that she has shown to the brethren. There are 
many brethren here, and we have made mention several 
times of thy name with good wishes for thee, and desires 
that God may increase all spiritual gifts unto thee, for the 
comfort of thy own soul and the edification of his Churches. 
Salute us to thy dear wife. For the rest of affairs among 
us, we do refer thee to the bearers, and conclude in all 
sincerity, 

Thy true and dear friends, 

John Tomkins, Francis Plumstead, 

Thomas Pittstow, Will. Robinson, 
Thomas Cox, Edward Hulley." 



John Blaikling, of whom honourable mention is made 
in the following letter, lived at a house called Draw-well, 
near Sedbergh in Yorkshire : he was convinced of the truth 
of the doctrines of Friends, by the ministry of George Fox, in 
1652. About two years afterward he received a dispensa- 
tion of the Gospel to publish to the world ; and he became 
a diligent labourer in the vineyard of the Lord, making 
apostolic visits to many parts of Great Britain. He was 
not only called to preach the Gospel of Christ, but to suffer 
for his sake, being several times sent a prisoner to York for 
holding or attending meetings for the worship of God, or 
for bearing a testimony against the anti-christian practice of 
claiming tithes under the Gospel dispensation. He died at 
his own house in 1705, aged 80 years, having been a minister 
about 51 years. — See Piety Promoted, Part III. 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 219 

James Baines, who is also mentioned with christian esteem 
in this letter, was born at Strangerthwait, in Westmoreland, 
of parents belonging to the Society of Friends : he began to 
seek the Lord when young, and grew in grace as he advanced 
in years. It is recorded of him, that " some time before he 
died, God opened his mouth in a public testimony for the 
Lord Jesus Christ and his pure religion, in which he was 
very fervent ;" and in his last illness, "at several times, he 
expressed his great peace with God here, and fall assurance 
of eternal blessedness in the world to come, through the 
atonement made by the Lord Jesus Christ, and the work of 
sanctification of his Spirit/'' He died in 1705, aged 51. — 
See Piety Promoted, Part III. 



« To William Ellis. 

Tenelle, 5th of 1st mo. 1706. 

Dear friend and fellow-servant in the Lord's 
vineyard ! I was at our Province Meeting at Carlow, two 
days ago, where I received thine ; it came in good time, and 
was well accepted, in the same love of God in which I 
believe it was written. I am always glad to hear from thee ; 
but I am touched with sorrow at my very heart for the loss 
of dear Isaac Alexander. Though he was a young man, yet 
he was of a ripe and sound judgment, and a good under- 
standing in the mystery of Christ's kingdom ; and the Lord's 
mighty power accompanied his testimony : he was my com- 
fortable companion in the fellowship of the Gospel of Christ 
Jesus, when I was last in England. We travelled together 
in sweet unity, from London to York, and in many places 
had powerful meetings together; and after the Quarterly 
Meeting was over, we parted in that love and life that death 
and the grave cannot overcome. Since that time I have 



220 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

had several comfortable letters from him, by which I under- 
stand that he retained his integrity to the Lord and his 
blessed Truth and testimony, which I am always glad to 
hear of. He wrote me a letter when he had been in the 
south and west of England ; and gave me some account of 
his travel and of the prosperity of Truth, and likewise how 
he had been sick and was pretty much recovered; and 
knowing my old age could not be of long continuance, he 
desired me to leave in writing some precepts of advice that 
might be for his benefit ; but now he has gone to his rest. 
According to his years and abilities he might have lived long 
and have been of great service, and I am yet left behind ; 
and the outward man is waxing feeble through old age, and 
thereby my service for the Lord's Truth is much abated ; 
but I do not find that my day's work is left behind me 
undone ; so, as bound in duty, I must leave all to the Lord, 
who knows what is best. I take notice of the death of old 
John Blaikling and James Baines ; the first a father and 
pillar of the church of Christ, kept close and staunch from 
the beginning, and was of great service many ways ; and 
James was a zealous, true man, and would have Truth's 
testimony preserved in all its branches, as we first received 
it from the Lord, and from Elders that have gone to their 
rest. The Lord grant that their seats be not left empty in 
the house and service of God. And as to those that are 
counted Eriends, and run headlong into debt, beyond their 
ability, and break; the testimony of Truth has gone over 
them again and again ; and likewise over them that go to 
law one with another ; but as to these last, the Affirmation 
hath opened a door for such to sacrifice the Truth to open 
scandal, and to rend and tear one another to pieces, which 
they could not have done so readily before. It is the Lord's 
day for making discovery and manifesting both matters and 
men, and what and whom he approves ; as on the other 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 221 

hand,, what and whom he disapproves. Though pretences 
be ever so plausible,, and designs be laid ever so deep, the 
only wise God, in his own method, is taking off the covering 
and discovering the ground and root of every one ; that all 
the churches may know that he searches the hearts and tries 
the reins ; and those that stand with his testimony, he doth 
and will stand by them, over all gainsay ers and revolters. 
Blessed be the great and holy name of the Lord ! Friends in 
this nation, up and down, are very quiet ; no sufferings, but 
a little by some particular priests, and that is very easy, and 
the Truth and Friends are in good esteem and credit ; and 
there is great openness in most places for Friends to have 
meetings. We want good labourers, for we have but a few 
in comparison to the great openness in most places. I shall 
conclude in hearty and true love to thee, thy wife, and 
Jeremiah Grimshaw, in a word, to all true-hearted, faithful 
Friends in your parts, and about Sedbergh and Kendal or 
elsewhere, that know me and may ask after me ; they may 
know that I am not much failed in ability but through old 
age, which naturally brings weakness of body along with it. 
So in the love and peace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ, I rest thy hearty true friend and brother in the 
blessed Truth, 

Wm. Edmundson," 

From the preceding letter, it appears that some who pro- 
fessed with Friends, and who seem to have united with them 
in their testimony against Oaths, went to law with their 
brethren, when permitted to give evidence upon Affirmation. 
This is a remarkable circumstance, and is one of the many 
evidences which are to be met with, that the day of the early 
Friends was not without trials, from persons who had joined 
the Society, but who, in various respects, were not subject to 
the government of Christ. 



222 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

Samuel Bownas, of whom honourable mention is made 
in the following letter, was a native of Westmoreland, 
and born about 1676. When about twenty years old, he 
was awakened spiritually through the instrumentality of the 
ministry of Anne Wilson, at Brignats Meeting, near Sed- 
bergh. One month after this event he came forth in the 
ministry, and soon became an able minister of the Gospel 
of Christ. Much of his life was spent in apostolic journeys 
in Great Britain, Ireland, and America. In the latter 
country he suffered imprisonment under the persecution 
raised by George Keith. In the latter part of his life, 
Samuel Bownas settled in Dorsetshire, where he died in 
1753, aged about 77 years. — See Life of Samuel Bownas. 

"Pennsylvania, 5th of 1st mo. 1706. 

Dear friend, Wm. Ellis ; 

In that love which abides and is unchangeable 
do I salute thee, not forgetting thy labour of love, and thy 
care over me, for the Truth's sake and my soul's welfare. 
I must confess now, as I have often done to that which I 
received through thee as an instrument, although the work 
was the Lord's, and he it is who gives the increase. Not- 
withstanding I knew the Lord in some degree, and loved 
the Truth and the prosperity thereof, for many years before 
thy coming amongst us, yet many things stood in my way 
that wanted to be removed ; and thou wast made serviceable 
to me therein ; and now, that thou mayst reap something of 
thy labours, which may add a little to thy satisfaction, I may 
inform thee that the bread thou cast upon the waters many 
days since, is, in part, found again. The Lord, if it be his 
will, continue to bless thy labour, and keep thee faithful in 
his service to the end of thy days ; the same I earnestly 
desire for myself, with all the Lord's servants and labourers 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 223 

that he hath employed to run to and fro on his errands,, to 
call others and invite them to come to the marriage of our 
Heavenly King's Son, who tells us, that in his Father's 
house are many mansions, and we faithfully believe the 
report. I shall not need to enlarge much on this subject, 
to thee especially, because thou knowest more than I can 
tell thee ; but I know by experience, that fathers love to 
hear their children talk a little in their minority and 
innocency ; and if the children do not speak altogether as 
well as they should, the fathers will delight to teach them. 
And since I have remembered thee, and given thee an 
opportunity for some fatherly instructions, I hope thou wilt 
not forget me, for I am in want. And now I think it is 
time to break off from this subject, and acquaint thee, that 
these come by our friend Samuel Bownas, who is a brave 
fellow, a good workman, and hath done great and good 
service here, and we are loth to part with him ; but if you 
have any more such, let thy prayers with mine be put up to 
our Master, that he may send them forth amongst us ; for 
here is abundance of work to be done, and a great want of 
workmen. And now for a conclusion ; in the sense of that 
Ancient Power, which uniting in love makes us one, all the 
world over, when truly gathered into it, do I again with 
sincere affection salute thee, and subscribe myself thy friend 
and younger brother in the fellowship of the Gospel of peace, 
according to my measure, 

Anthony Morris." 

" To Abraham Green, 

Airton, the 29th of 3rd mo. 1706. 
Kind friend, 

Since I left you, thou, with many others, 
hast been much in my mind, and the more, because 
the Lord's kindness was manifested amongst us; and I 



£24 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

heartily wish your growth and prosperity in the most pre- 
cious Truth, and that it may spread over all your country, 
and that those that of late years have come to know it, may 
walk in it : it was the just rnan's path of old ; it was David's 
guide ; it was the guide of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ; and 
by the strength that came from the fountain of it, was Israel 
led through the wilderness and through the Bed Sea ; and 
by the strength hereof, Caleb and Joshua inherited the good 
land ; what shall I say of the fame of the Fountain of it, but 
even as w T as said of old, Thou hast been our dwelling-place 
in all generations. And blessed be the Lord that hath made 
his arm bare in our time, to bring many back that were gone 
into a bye path, and to bring us to the discovery of a most 
excellent situation, the glory of which cannot be told with 
the tongue of men ; and it is intended by Him that we 
should grow steadfast in the faith, which gives victory over 
that which is to be done away, and brings us into that state 
of preparation in which, at the last, we may come to enjoy 
that which we have had in some measure a foresight of. In 
order to this, I wish that I and all may hold fast that which 
has begun to work in us, that so we may know a steadfast 
perseverance in that way that is cast up for all that love the 
Lord Jesus Christ. And kind friend, I desire thee to give 
my dear love to all Eriends about thee, and tell them my 
love is to them beyond words, and that Friends are very 
often in my remembrance ; and I pray God to preserve you 
all and make his name known more and more amongst the 
dark professors, that it may be said as of old, that she that 
sat in solitary places, and inhabited the wilderness, may sing 
for joy of heart, Oh ! blessing and honour to the name of 
the Lord for ever and ever. This is from thy real well- 
wishing friend, who desires that Truth may spread over all 
the earth, 

Wm. Elms." 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 225 

"Chester, North America, 24th of 5th mo. 1706. 

Dear friend, Wm. Ellis ; 

Having this opportunity, by a vessel bound 
for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, I am willing to let thee hear from 
me, and to give thee some account of our welfare, which 
I doubt not thou wilt be glad to hear of. John Eothergill 
and I are both pretty well in health, except overdone by 
hard travelling and heavy exercises, abundance of which 
have fallen to our lot, and they sometimes bring the body 
weak and low ; yet through the great mercy and goodness 
of our God, strength has been given us to hold on our way 
hitherto. Since the last Yearly Meeting at Philadelphia, 
we have been in the eastward country, and in New England, 
and on Long Island, where we spent much more time than 
we expected, by reason that we could not be clear without 
being at their Monthly, Quarterly, and Yearly Meetings 
of business. This hath cost us many miles travel. At 
these meetings there was a service for us, not only in 
bearing public testimony for the Truth, but also in en- 
deavouring to settle some good order and discipline in 
the Church ; for although many are convinced of the 
Truth in these parts, and make profession of it, yet there has 
been a want of good discipline ; and this has been an inlet 
to abundance of looseness and improper liberty. But there 
is a pretty people arising who are willing to take hold of 
the work ; and in whose hands I have a strong hope the 
Lord will carry it on, to his own honour and their com- 
fort ; and I think I may say, Truth gets ground and rises 
over the heads of such as have stood to prevent the stroke 
from coming upon iniquity, and their hands grow weaker, 
their knees feebler, and their number fewer, so that I think 
I may say, A consumption has taken hold of the Lord's 
enemies. There is a pretty people upon Rhode Island, who 

Q 



226 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

are many of them young ; they are both zealous and know- 
ing ; I hope the Lord will make some of them a blessing to 
the country. The present are troublesome times in the 
eastern parts of New England ; the Indians are often break- 
ing in upon them, and sometimes killing and carrying away 
captive some of our poor Friends, who seem to be in con- 
tinual jeopardy of their lives, but most have hitherto been mar- 
vellously preserved. We came from New England to Long 
Island Yearly Meeting, and went back to Rhode Island 
Yearly Meeting, both of which were very large, and owned 
by the power of Truth in a good degree, to the comfort of 
many hearts. There is at present upon Long Island a con- 
siderable breaking in of the Truth upon many young people, 
and great tenderness among them. I have not heard one 
word from thee, nor had one line, though I have written 
several times to thee ; thou mayst be sure I should have been 
glad of a letter ; but if I be not worthy, I must be content 
without one. Bemember my dear love to Eriends, and 
to my relations, and take the same to thyself and wife and 
family, from thy exercised friend, though well content with 
my portion, 

Wm. Armistead." 



"Philadelphia, 9th of 6th mo. 1706. 

My near and esteemed Eriend, 

Whom I dearly love, and often remember 
in a near and sweet manner in these wilderness countries, 
where William Armistead and I have good reason to be satisfied 
that the Truth has led us ; and my spirit of late time has been 
particularly inclined to write a few lines unto thee ; but this 
day, came a few lines by Samuel Carpenter to our hand 
from thee, of which we are truly glad, which hath increased 



WILLTAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 227 

the openness of my heart towards thee, which is occasioned 
and maintained by the bowing, melting life of the blessed 
Truth, whereby the great and merciful Hand prevailed upon 
us, when far out of favour with the Lord ; and by the con- 
tinued extending of it, he has led step by step to where he 
is pleased in some measure to make use of us ; and he is 
also a careful provider of strength and counsel to his little 
ones in needful times. In awfulness of soul my heart bows 
before him at this season, in the sense of that engaging 
virtue whereby the Lord's people, that are really so, are 
made really and truly near, although their bodies be far 
apart. I would not write largely, my companion having 
written a pretty large account already, but my heart 
being solidly affected in living love, gives thee these few 
lines, hoping thou wilt feel a little of the frame and tra- 
vail of our spirits, and continue thine for us. We have 
a pretty deep share in searching work, which sometimes takes 
fast hold both of body and mind ; yet we have some reason 
to hope it will not be altogether lost labour ; for though 
things in some places are very poor, and life very low and 
scarce, yet there is now more room for labour, in order for 
the removal of obstructions, than there has been heretofore. 
Here is lately some account come from the east of New 
England, of more damage being done by the Indians, yet 
Friends keep their places finely in a general way; and 
hitherto the Almighty has preserved them. The Lord God 
keep them and all in due subjection to him, and in confi- 
dence in him, and reverent, under the renewings of Iris 
mercies, is my strong cry. Here is a suffering people, 
yet too many more zealous for earth than heaven ; though 
the earth doth not favour many as it has done. Samuel 
Carpenter and his wife, and David Lloyd and his wife, give 
their love to thee, and many more. We came this day out 
of the Jerseys, from visiting Friends there, and find hard 

Q2 



£28 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OE 

searching to get way for the Truth, yet have some hope, 
because there are growing spirits for the Truth's sake, and we 
are now intending to visit this Province, having been very 
little in it, and to stay the Yearly Meeting, and so down to 
Maryland, if the Lord will, and towards Yirginia and 
Carolina, supposing it will be the latter part of winter at 
the soonest, before we can be clear of this Continent. 
Clearing exercise seems to prolong our journey beyond what 
was hoped for ; but through the continued goodness of the 
Almighty, and the renewing of that love and virtue which 
drove us hither, we are pretty clear of begrudging our time 
or strength, yet we hope we shall spare no reasonable pains 
to shorten time. In the renewing of abiding love I salute 
thee and thy dear wife, E. Wilkinson and wife, and your 
family, and our dear Friends at the Quarterly Meeting, as 
thou art free. Thus concludes thy companion, in my small 
measure, in travail for the spreading of the fame and beauty 
of the Truth to the ends of the earth. Farewell ! 

John Fothergill." 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 229" 



CHAPTER XYI. 



Remarks on "Wrong Spirits. Notice of Susanna Freeborn. Letters 
from Leah Newbery and Richard Johns. Notices of Thomas Wilson 
and Joseph Glaister. Letter from Samuel Jennings. Notice of 
John Gratton and letter from him. Letter to Francis Tomes. Letter 
from George Rook. Notice of George Knipe and letter from him. 
Letters from William Edmundson and Thomas Rodman. 



Some of the letters in this chapter, as well as some in 
those preceding, show, that notwithstanding the Society of 
Friends was at tins period, in a state in which the accessions 
to its numbers by convincement were much greater than has 
been the case in modern times, it nevertheless had, in some 
places, trials to endure in consequence of the obtrusion of a 
wrong spirit. Trials from wrong spirits have occurred in 
the Church of Christ in most periods of its history ; and the 
apostle Paul when speaking of " divisions" among the 
brethren in his day, attributes them to a permitted condition, 
in order ' ' that they which are approved may be made mani- 
fest." Trials arising from wrong spirits are not therefore to 
be taken as necessarily proving a lapsed condition of the 
Church, but rather as evidences of the necessity of watchful- 
ness and prayer, lest those who think they stand should not 
be found in a christian spirit, or in any other way should fail 
of the grace of God. 

In the Life of John Richardson mention is made of Susanna 
Preeborn, who is noticed in the following letter : she went 



230 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

in company with him, on a religious visit to Nantucket; 
and he speaks of her as a woman in good unity with 
Friends. — See Life of John Eichardson. Edition 1143, 
page 85. 

" Ehode Island, 29th of 6th mo. 1706. 

Dear friend, Wm. Ellis ; 

Our friend, Alice Anthony, desired me to 
write a few lines for her to thee, withal to let thee know, 
that thy labour of love amongst us hath not been in vain ; 
we are livingly sensible of the good effect of it ; blessed be 
the name of the Lord ! although there hath and is a spirit 
amongst us that would crush and keep down the young ones, 
and is ready to envy and snub them ; and not only so, but 
when strangers and travelling Eriends come amougst us, is 
ready to bias them as it were to dash and beat some back. 
All this proceeds from self-love; self would be had in 
reputation ; self would be esteemed and honoured, and have 
the pre-eminence ; but where the Truth prevails, in old or 
young, such cannot but honour, love, and esteem all the 
faithful, and more especially those that are ancient in the 
Truth. I was loath in myself to write after this manner ; 
yet was willing to give thee a little account of the truth of 
things amongst us Our dear friend, Thomas Thompson, 
hath been a valiant warrior amongst us, and hath quit him- 
self like a man. Indeed, although I believe there are s"ome 
amongst us, and that not of the meanest sort neither, that 
will say of him as they said of thee, That such doctrine as 
yours will do little good here. What shall we say, when 
such as are accounted leaders cannot endure sound doctrine ? 
However, blessed be the Lord ! there is a remnant upon 
Ehode Island that love sound doctrine, and desire to be 
searched thoroughly ; and this I have to tell thee, that Truth 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 231 

lias prospered and grown more upon Khode Island and the 
parts adjacent since the time thou wast here, than it hath 
done for fifteen or twenty years before. There are several 
that are come forth and have a concern for the prosperity of 
Truth. Our dear and ancient friend, Daniel Gould, is well, 
also Susanna Freeborn, the young woman that came forth in 
a testimony when thou wast amongst us ; to whom thou 
wast a nursing father. We cannot forget thee, but thou art 
very fresh and living in our remembrance, and we have cause 
to bless the Lord on thy behalf. Dear friend, I am a child, 
and have written like a child, stammeringly and brokenly ; 
but I hope, as thou art strong, thou wilt bear with the 
weak. My dear love salutes thee, and 

I am thy friend, 

Leah Newbery." 



"Maryland, 12th of 6th mo. 1706. 

Dear emend, Wm. Ellis ; 

Whoni I truly love, I have thine per our 
friends, John Eothergill and William Armistead; and I 
was glad to hear from thee, though truly sorry for thy afflic- 
tion. I may say as thou dost, It has been often in my mind 
to write to thee, but something or other has prevented. And 
now having this opportunity, by our friend, Samuel Bownas, 
know thou that through the continued mercy of the Lord I 
with my wife and all my children enjoy health ; and Friends 
in these parts are generally in health, as when thou left us, 
and the Truth prospers in America. The Lord hath a people 
here to whom his love is ; and he delights to water them 
with the distillation of the dew of his mercy, winch engages 
them to be zealous for the honour and glory of his great 



23 £ LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

Name ; and the constraining power of the Lord hath opened 
the mouths of divers of his people hereaway, to speak a word 
in season. Several new Meeting-houses have been built, viz. 
at the Cliffs, Herring Creek, and Petapsio, also large additions 
have been made to our Yearly Meeting-house at West River. 
The last Yearly Meeting there, has settled a meeting of minis- 
tering Mends. In this Province, the great benefit they are of 
has been already witnessed among us. Our Week-day meetings 
are duly kept and pretty well attended, and Friends are 
zealously concerned for keeping up the established discipline 
in the Church. And I may further tell thee, that Friends 
hereaway are of one heart ; we have no opposers, peace, love 
and unity dwell with us. Thus I have given thee a brief 
account of the present state of Truth's affairs amongst us 
here ; and in a fresh remembrance of our sweet companion- 
ship, both by sea and land, and in a living sense of the many 
heavenly visitations we enjoyed together, I conclude at this 
time, who am thy truly loving friend and brother in the fel- 
lowship of the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ, 

Richard Johns." 



Thomas Wilson, who is mentioned in the following letter, 
was a native of Cumberland : he was brought up in profes- 
sion with the Episcopal Church, but joined the Society of 
Friends whilst a young man. After experiencing a true 
change of heart by the power of the grace of God, he 
came forth as a minister of the Gospel of Christ; and 
under the constraining influence of the Holy Spirit travelled 
in the exercise of his gift in Great Britain, Ireland, and 
America: he settled at Edenderry in Ireland, in 1695 : he 
often travelled in the work of the ministry in company with 
James Dickinson. Thomas Wilson died in 17 £5, aged 70, 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 233 

having been a minister abont 45 years. — See Piety Pro- 
moted, Part IX. Leadbeater's Biographical Notices, page 
158. Journals of Thomas Wilson and James Dickinson, 
edition 1847. 

Joseph Glaister, who is also noticed in this letter, was 
born in Cumberland, from which county he visited Ireland 
in 1695, in company with another Priend of the same name : 
he removed with his family into North. Carolina, and is 
described in a testimony respecting him as a valuable min- 
ister, and very serviceable in the discipline, and one who tra- 
velled much for the spreading of the Truth : he died in 1718, 
aged about 45 years, having been a minister about 24 years. 



"Philadelphia, 13th of 6th mo. 1706. 

Dear Wm. Ellis ; 

With true and hearty love do I salute thee, 
in a renewed and living remembrance of thy labour of love 
whilst amongst us, which I pray God plentifully to reward 
for it has left a living impression upon many hearts, such as 
neither time nor distance can wear out. I was pleased to 
hear of thee by Samuel Carpenter, to whom thou wrote, 
but grieved to hear of thy affliction. The Lord re- 
lieve and ease thee, my dear friend ! I thought to have 
written to several Priends that have travelled here (for others 
in your parts I know not) only to renew love, for business I 
have none with any. I entreat thee to help me to supply 
that defect : I have not time to do as I would ; therefore 
pray give my dear love to John Richardson, whom I believe to 
be a faithful man ; he was kindly received here for his work's 
sake ; also to thy companion, Aaron Atkinson ; and if it fall 
in thy way, to dear Thomas Wilson and James Dickinson, 



234 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OE 

Thomas Thompson and Josiah Langdale, and Joseph Glaister; 
they will be all glad to hear of the Truth's prosperity and 
Eriends' welfare. Things in the main, I think, are pretty well 
amongst us, though we are not without our exercises on 
divers accounts, both religious and civil; but there are 
some that trouble us, who seem to be of us, who are high 
and stubborn, asserting rule, but not having learned to rule 
themselves ; and for want of skill, they are apt to justify the 
wicked and condemn the righteous, which practices are both 
an abomination to the Lord ; but the Truth is over them, and 
they shall not proceed much farther ; and the living are out 
of their reach, under the waterings of heaven, and they grow 
to the honour and praise of Him that hath planted them, 
and is daily bountiful to them. Divers Friends here suffer 
loss of goods, for not training for soldiers, which loss in the 
general they cheerfully and honestly suffer ; but a few raise 
contrivances to avert suffering, to the staining of their testi- 
mony, and yet would be thought clear. Low priests and apos- 
tates are wicked and envious and very busy ; but the Truth 
goes over them all and must prevail. Dear John Fothergill 
and William Armistead are now with us ; we are very glad 
of the assistance the Lord hath given us, by seasonably send- 
ing his servants amongst us. I believe they all have their 
reward in it, and honour is brought to God and comfort to 
his people by it. The Lord keep us sensible of the multi- 
tude of his mercies, in the unity of his Holy Spirit, without 
which we can neither grow nor live ; so that therein Ave may 
praise Him who is worthy of all praise and renown, now and 
for ever. This with dear love to thyself and thy dear wife, 
1 hough unknown, and all Friends, is from thy sincere friend 
and brother in the fellowship of the Gospel, 

Samuel Jennings." 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 235 

John Gratton, the writer of the following letter, ap- 
pears to have been born about 1641. He was first 
brought under religious conviction, when he was a shep- 
herd-boy of eleven years of age, but he remained in a 
halting state till he attained to manhood ; he then became 
more devoted in heart to the Lord. He was brought into 
great grief on observing the instability of some professed 
preachers of the Gospel, in times of persecution. In 1670 
he began to preach among the Baptists, but soon left this 
people because they also flinched in the day of trial, and 
becoming convinced of the soundness of the principles held 
by Friends, and seeing their constancy under suffering, he 
joined them in 1671. The third time he attended a Friends' 
meeting, he spoke as a minister under the constraining in- 
fluence of the Divine Spirit ; and he soon became an able 
minister of Christ. His business was that of a butcher, but 
he often left his temporal concerns to make apostolic visits 
to various parts of Great Britain and Ireland ; he also 
suffered imprisonment for about five years and a half for the 
Gospel's sake. His residence was for many years at Mony- 
ash, in Derbyshire, but in 1708 he removed to Needham, 
and resided with a daughter, at whose house he died, in 
1711, aged 68, having been a minister about 40 years. 



6th of 1 0th mo. 1706. 

My DEARLY BELOVED AND TRULY ESTEEMED ERIEKD, 

"War. Ellis; 

These come dearly to salute thee and thy 
comfortable wife, desiring, in much love, that these lines 
may find you both in good health, and every way, in soul, 
body, and mind, well in the Lord, who is the true treasure 
and portion of his poor children, who, though they be poor, 



236 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

have been made by him instrumental to direct and invite the 
poor, and tell them where there is plenty of true riches that 
will never decay, and that no thief can steal away. Blessed 
be the Lord ! he hath taken a remnant out of the sorrows of 
hell into heavenly places in Christ Jesus, where true joy and 
comfort are. Praise be to him for ever ! I pray God pre- 
serve us in his holy Truth, alive to God all our days, to his 
own glory. Oh, there never was more need of the secret 
preserving hand of Gcd than now ! Dear friend, I am 
kept very weak in body, unfit to travel, and my wife is fallen 
lame and weak also, else I often think of thee, and should 
be glad to come once more to see thee, in the will of God, 
and in the enjoyment of him, without whom I am worse than 
nothing, so can do nothing. I desire thy remembrance of 
us ; T was glad of Lawrence King and his companion's visit. 
So in true love, that is beyond words, in which thou and 
thy dear wife are near me, I thank God, 

I am thy sincere friend and brother, 

John Gratton." 



"Airton, 1706. 
Kind friend, Francis Tomes, 

This comes with remembrance of true and 
unfeigned love to thee and Friends, as thou seest fit, and to 
let you know of my safe arrival in my own country. Though 
I went through much difficulty and exercise in my travels 
after I left you, yet the Lord stood by me in all trials ; so 
that at my return, I could not express his goodness to me ; 
and because of that and all other of his mercies to me, my 
heart and soul are engaged to praise his holy name. And 
now, my friend, seeing it fell to my lot to visit you, and I 
had times of comfort amongst both old and young, therefore 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 237 

my heart is deeply concerned for your welfare, and I desire 
that all Friends may walk up to the Truth. Let the time 
past be sufficient wherein we walked according to the 
course of our vain mind, so that our diligence may be 
doubled to redeem our misspent time, so that we may 
increase our love to God, and one to another. And let 
all Friends be careful to meet together often, and in due 
time, and let the power of Truth fill all your hearts ; and in 
that, both old and young will grow in sincerity ; and if it 
please the Lord to open the hearts of any amongst you, be 
tender to them and wait to help them on in their service for 
the Lord ; and if any that be of a tender age should give a 
word of exhortation, let no man despise their youth ; for it 
was said of old, that out of the mouths of babes praises 
should arise : and again, the stammerer should speak plainly, 
and "the tongue of the dumb shall sing/' and the simple 
shall learn doctrine ; and saith the prophets, they shall grow 
as calves in the stall, and as willows by the water-courses. 
They were to wait to see the Truth at work in the hearts of 
a young generation, and to rejoice thereat. And I desire 
that Friends' care may increase over the negroes, and labour 
to bring them to the feeling of the life of Truth ; and that 
when out of meeting they may learn to be grave and sober ; 
and thus my soul travails that the Lord's name may grow 
famous amongst the heathen. Here are three of our 
country Friends, that I hope may bring this to thee, they 
are true men, and will be of good service, if it please God 
to bring them safe to you. I desire thee to remember my 
true love to Ann Wilson if alive, and James HilFs widow, 
and to Friends in general. Tins comes with true love to 
thee and thy wife, and so concludes thy truly loving friend, 

Wm. Ellis." 



238 LIFE AKD COMIESPONDEKCE OF 

"Dublin, 25th of 10th mo. 1707. 
Deah eriend, Wm. Ellis, 

With endeared love, I very dearly salute thee 
and thy dear wife, with whom my spirit hath sweet unity in 
the life of Truth ; and now, my friend, I send thee a paper 
enclosed, written by our friend William Edmundson, who 
hath had a weighty concern upon him for a right regulation 
in men's and women's meetings, that all that meet about the 
Lord's business may be rightly qualified and gifted for that 
service, and that none may be admitted nor continued mem- 
bers of such meetings, but faithful men and women, ac- 
cording to the first settlement ; and especially of the 
Meeting for Sufferings, in London. It might be of great 
service to all the Churches if it were made up of such 
weighty, sensible members, as the matters of that meeting 
require such; but as the case stands, many concerned 
Friends are uneasy about that meeting, not knowing the 
boundaries thereof, nor indeed who are the proper members 
thereof, therefore it ought to come under your serious con- 
sideration, to have things put in order in that meeting, and 
especially in your county, where there is both a large and 
weighty people that might give good help in this good work. 
Williain Edmundson's dear love is to thee and thy wife, and 
faithful friends ; and he bids me send thee one of the papers, 
to communicate as thou thoughtest fit, and he desires me to 
tell thee that he would be glad of a few lines from thee ; but 
he desires that thou wilt excuse his writing to thee, for he 
saith his hands shake so, that he cannot do it. I was 
willing to give this acoount of him, because thou mayst 
think long of hearing from him. I was with him in the 
north of this nation just before our Half-year's meeting; we 
were five or six weeks out and had good service ; for the 
Lord's goodness went along with us and gave strength to 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 239 

old age beyond- the ordinary course of nature. Give my 
dear love to Aaron Atkinson when thou seest him, and tell 
him I should be glad to see him and thee here. Our Friend 
John Bradley landed here yesterday, being come to give us 
a visit. This is all at present from thy steadfast friend, 
honest but poor, 

George Rook." 



George Knipe, of Hawkshead, in Lancashire, the writer of 
the following letter, was brought up in profession with the 
Episcopal Church, but joined the Society of Friends about 
1675, being then in the 22nd year of his age. Previous to 
this period he was vain in his conversation, and given to the 
singing of idle songs. The change produced in him by 
attention to the light of God's spirit shining in his heart 
was very conspicuous. After experiencing the work of 
repentance and sanctirlcation of the Spirit unto a good 
measure of obedience, he became a preacher of Christ, and 
from about his 32nd year, spent most of his time in pub- 
lishing the glad tidings of the Gospel. In this service he 
made many apostolic journeys in Great Britain and Ireland. 
He died in 1709, in the 56th year of his age. — See Piety 
Promoted, Part Y. 

"London, 16th of 8th mo. 1708. 

Dear friend, ¥m. Ellis, 

I make use of this opportunity to write to 
thee, having heard of thy affliction and weakness, I was 
sorry and sympathised with thee ; and my cry and prayer to 
God was, that he might give thee patience, and assist thee 
with his merciful hand, and sweeten thy racking pain with 
Ins divine presence, whose grace is sufficient, and his power 



240 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

is made manifest in weakness. My cry and secret breathings 
were, that the Lord, who can and doth give time, might 
spare thee a little longer, and that it might be to his glory 
and praise, and to thy comfort ; and when I heard of thy 
recovery I was glad, I can honestly say ; and I hope it will 
be for more service to him and his Truth, and people, whom 
he has inclined thy heart to serve. O ! what need have we 
all to be devoted to do all the good we can in the little time 
the Lord giveth us, that we may give up our accounts with 
joy, and have the sweet sentence of "Well done, thou good 
and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord ; " 
and, " Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom 
prepared for you from the foundation of the world ; " then 
will it be said to us, When I was hungry ye gave me meat ; 
and thirsty ye gave me drink ; and naked ye clothed me ; 
and sick and in prison, ye came to visit and administer 
unto me. Oh this is precious, sweet, and profitable ! 
This looks very glorious and beautiful ; it hath the image of 
the holy Jesus, our holy mediator, and heavenly pattern and 
example, whose steps we are called to follow, who was not 
of this world, who came not to do his own will, but the will 
of him that sent him ; therefore the world hated him without 
a cause. His kingdom was not of this world, and his 
servants have not their treasure here. I observe that 
one said he would follow the Lord whithersoever he went ; 
Jesus answered him thus ; " The foxes have holes, and the 
birds of the air have nests ; but the Son of Man hath not 
where to lay his head;" from which we may infer the 
meaning, If thou follow me thou must not expect great 
palaces and preferments in this world ; but must leave them, 
and walk and live by faith in him who clothes the lilies and 
feeds the ravens. This is a hard task for a carnal man to 
be reconciled to, and it was so for the young man that went 
away sorrowful, because he had great possessions, when our 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 241 

Saviour said,, " How hardly shall they that have riches enter 
into the kingdom of God ! Tor it is easier for a camel to 
go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter 
the kiugdom of God." God Almighty helps us, that our 
hearts and minds may be heavenly, that our treasure may be 
in heaven, then our hearts will be there also. I am a poor 
pilgrim, and have been exposed to many trials, exercises and 
afflictions, yet I am alive to breathe a little, so long as God 
pleaseth. I have had a deep trial of late, yet the Lord hath 
helped me, and given me my life for a prey. I have had 
many shakes, if I had not trusted in God I had not stood. 
His hand hath upholded me, he hath hid me in his pavilion 
from the strife of tongues. I have been once more at the 
Land's End, in Cornwall ; I know not but it may be the 
last time : I have had no companion ; I had like to have 
dropped, but the Lord's power upheld me ; yet I was weakly 
and have got on but slowly of late. I am spent, but not 
without hope of a rich reward from the bountiful hand of a 
merciful God, whose compassion fails not them who love and 
fear him. In his sweet love I tenderly greet and salute 
thee with thy good wife, and I desire your welfare every way 
as my own. I hope I shall be preserved where I may labour 
for Zion's prosperity and the peace of Jerusalem ; for they 
prosper that love her and favour her dust, and that cry and 
cannot hold their peace until her righteousness be as the 
sun at noon day. I would not load thee with lines. 
"William Penn is at liberty. Pride grows to a great* height 
in this nation. The Lord, I am satisfied, will bring it 
down. I commit thee to the protection of God, who will 
not fail us as we keep true to him. I conclude thy true 
and constant friend in my measure of grace, 

George Knipe." 



242 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

The following letter from William Edmundson appears to 
have been written when he was abont 81 years of age. 

"Dublin, 11th of 9th mo. 1708. 
Dear Wm. Ellis ; 

I received thy loving and brotherly letter per 
our friend and brother, Lawrence King, and likewise another 
which thou wrote in Lancashire, and which I received in the 
same entire kindness and brotherly love in which they were 
written ; and to make my return, am glad still to hear from 
thee, and of thy integrity, which thou holdest fast for the 
Lord, and his blessed Truth, and which integrity never 
wanted a reward. I am sorry for thy affliction by reason of 
that painful infirmity that attends thee, but may not advise 
thee to submit to an operation for it, for that might shorten 
thy days, as it hath done those of many others within my 
time. And now my friend, I am in this city on account of 
Truth's service ; it being the time of our National Half- 
year's Meeting, where we have an account of Truth's affairs, 
and of Friends in every quarter, and of the care of Elders 
and concerned brethren, that all may be well in the Church 
of Christ, and that the plantation of the Lord of Life may be 
kept clean. But this is a hard labour and requires great 
diligence and skill ; weeds of several kinds shoot up so fast, 
and make such a specious show, and are of such fine colours, 
as though they were the very choice and wholesome herbs, 
and the sweet and pleasant flowers in the garden ; this is 
particularly the case with that presumptious weed, the love 
of the greatness and riches of this world, and the earnest 
pursuit after them; it is a surfeiting weed, and surfeits 
those noble parts in man which otherwise are capable of 
serving the Lord. "We have waded through the service 
belonging to this meeting, through the assistance of God's 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 243 

wonted goodness and heavenly wisdom. For the particulars 
I shall refer thee to the bearer, being straitened for time. 
My unchangeable love to thee in the unchangeable, blessed 
Truth, 

Wm. Edmundson." 



Rhode Island, 22nd of 1 Oth mo. 1708. 

Dear emend, "Wm. Ellis ; 

I received thy kind and loving letter some 
time past, but I must acknowledge my negligence in not 
writing to thee ; often I remember thy charge to write every 
year : however I am glad of this opportunity by our friend 
John Hulley, a young man that hath been lately convinced 
of the Truth here ; he hath been to Barbadoes and Jamaica 
to visit Eriends there, and now hath laid before Eriends his 
intention of visiting Eriends in Old England, his native 
country. He is of a blameless conversation, and I hope 
Eriends will be tender towards him. My name is not at his 
certificate, I not being at the meeting when it was granted. 
Dear William, although I have not so frequently written to 
thee, yet thou art sealed in my heart ; and thy service here 
on this Island, God hath blessed with good effects, and 
particularly the Lord hath opened our hearts to build a 
fair, large meeting-house ; also at Dartmouth, Sandwich, 
Naragansett Province, meeting-houses are built since thou 
wast here. The testimony that God gave thee to bear with 
power and virtue, hath awakened many. Eriends are gene- 
rally well, and the Truth prospers, and our meetings of 
business are carried on in the unity of the Gospel. I heard 
by John EotherguTs letter, of thy being at the Yearly 
Meeting in London, sound in faith, though weakly of body. 
The Lord knows what is best ; his left hand shall uphold, 

r 2 



244 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OE 

and his right hand will defend. I am weakly and crazy 
myself, but rather better than I have been for some years 
past, for which with manifold other mercies, I desire I may 
bless the Lord ; and in and through all, I can truly say, It 
was good that I was afflicted. I cannot get near enough to 
manifest my love to thee, but in our love to the Truth, we 
are sweet and pleasant together. John Pothergill and 
"William Armistead have left a sweet savour behind them. 
I hope the Lord will reward them, and all his servants that 
he is pleased to concern in his work. My love salutes thee 
and bids thee, Farewell ! 

I am thy friend, 

Thomas Rodman." 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 245 



CHAPTER XVII. 



Notice of a Yearly Meeting at Lancaster by John Kelsall. Decease 
of William Ellis. Notice of Abigail Stott. Remarks respecting the 
recording of Ministers. Ministers in Settle Monthly Meeting cotem- 
porary with William Ellis. Abigail Stott's Testimony respecting 
William Ellis. 



The Correspondence of William and Alice Ellis being 
now brought to a close, the following notice of a Yearly 
Meeting at Lancaster, in which the former took a prominent 
part, claims a place here. This Meeting was held in the 
Second Month, 1709, and at an interval when William Ellis 
was a little recruited from the effect of the malady which 
wore down his bodily powers, and at length caused his 
death. The account is from the pen of John Kelsall, who 
was a schoolmaster at Dolobran in Wales. 

" I went to the Yearly Meeting at Lancaster. The public 
meetings were attended by a very great number of Eriends, 
and many heavenly testimonies were borne, and much counsel 
and sound advice were given in the openings of Truth, for 
Eriends to keep in faithfulness. Then came on the Quarterly 
Meeting, where things were managed in great calmness, love 
and unity ; and a good account was given from divers places 
of the increase and prosperity of Truth. At the close of this, 
a very solemn weighty parting meeting was held. Great 
indeed was the power and presence of the Lord in that 



246 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

assembly ; his divine overshadowing arm, and wing of love 
were abundantly known and manifested at that time ; and a 
sweet, pure current of life largely flowed through the meet- 
ing, to the great joy and rejoicing of the faithful, whose 
souls were sweetly refreshed together, and who were con- 
strained to speak well of the name of the Lord. 

" Amongst other brethren, our dear friend, William Ellis, 
had a blessed opportunity, and was carried on in the power 
and life of Truth, even beyond a usual manner. Oh ! 
methinks it affects my heart to remember the glorious 
presence of the Lord that appeared with him, he being 
full of love, full of zeal, full of courage, and as one 
triumphant over the devil and the powers of darkness, and 
in the divine region of light and life. This was indeed a 
glorious season ; and the rays and majesty of Truth were 
largely extended and stretched over that large assembly, so 
that many were made to say afterwards, that they had not 
known the like. And in this exaltation of life and power, 
the meeting concluded."" 



Tradition says that Alice Ellis was absent from home at 
the time of the decease of her husband; that after he 
returned from Lancaster he reluctantly consented to her 
leaving him in order to attend a meeting at a distance; 
and that on her setting out on the journey, he walked to 
an adjacent rising ground and followed her with his eyes as 
far as he was able, under the impression that he should see 
her no more in this world. 

Soon after her departure he became worse and declined 
rapidly, but manifested a sweet state of mind and a readiness to 
depart, which were very comforting to his friends. In con- 
versation with one of them, a short time before his decease, 
he alluded to the day of his convincement of the Truth as it 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 247 

is in Jesus, saying, u It was a glorious day for me," and he 
added, " that he had large tokens that the day of his death 
would be so likewise." He died at his own house at Airton, 
on the 4th of the 4th month, 1709, aged nearly 51 years, 
having been a minister 30 years; and on the 11th, his 
remains were interred in the burial-ground attached to the 
meeting-house adjacent to his dwelling, and which he had 
given to the Society of Friends. A large concourse of his 
fellow-professors and neighbours attended on the occasion, 
which it is stated, " was eminently owned and overshadowed 
with the Lord's power and presence." 

After the decease of William Ellis several testimonies to 
his character and services were drawn up. The following 
was from the pen of his old mistress, Abigail Stott, to whom 
allusion is made at pages 2, 18, 45 and 46 of this volume. 
She appears to have been of a class of persons, who seem to 
have been numerous in the early days of the Society of 
Friends, and who were at times engaged in vocal labour as 
ministers in their own meetings, but did not travel in this 
work. As the practice of recording ministers did not take 
place in the Society of Friends till about 1773, and testi- 
monies respecting them were seldom if ever issued on their 
decease in the earlier periods of the Society, unless the 
parties had travelled much in the service of the Gospel, we 
have little official evidence as to who were considered 
accredited ministers in that day, unless they had certificates 
granted them for service out of their own meetings. The 
granting of these certificates might indeed be considered as 
the official acknowledgement of ministers by their monthly- 
meetings ; nevertheless many, who probably never applied 
for such certificates, were in the practice of attending the 
meetings of ministers, having been invited to do so by some 
of the members of these meetings ; such invitation at that 
period being considered a sufficient introduction. John 



248 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

Stott, the husband of Abigail Stott, mentioned at pages 
2 and 45, and Ann Kingshall or Killinghall, mentioned at 
page 46, were also probably ministers in Skipton Meeting, of 
the same description as Abigail Stott. 

Those who by having had certificates from Settle Monthly 
Meeting, for the performance of religious services in other 
parts of Great Britain, in Ireland or in America, between 
1636 and 1709, and who were consequently cotemporary 
with William Ellis, and constituted the chief part of the 
Meeting of Ministers at Settle, mentioned at pages 71, 72, 
&c. were — Richard Wildman, James Wildman, Julian Erank- 
land, Thomas Carr, Samuel Watson, Mary Watson, Jennet 
Stow, Jane Sedgwick, Thomas Eudd, Joseph Nicholson, 
William Birkbeck, William Armistead, Thomas Wilde, John 
Potter, Stephen Sedgwick, William Slater, Lawrence King, 
PhcEbe Tillotson, and Ann Hird; and there is evidence 
that James Walton, Alice Ellis and John King were also 
ministers at this period. 



A Testimony concerning the Convincement of that faithful 
Servant of Jesus Christ, William Ellis, of Airton, in 
the County of York, deceased, by Abigail Stott, 1709. 



The memory of the just is blessed. — Prov. x. 7. 



It was his lot before his convincement, to become a hired 
servant to my husband, John Stott, of Skipton, in Craven, 
in the county aforesaid, linen-weaver, also deceased; and 
when he had been about two years with us, there was a 
meeting appointed and holden at Lower Bradley, about two 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 

miles from Skipton, aforesaid, in the Third Month, on the 
fifth day of the week, called Hallow Thursday, 1676; to 
which meeting he asked of me if he might go ; and with 
much freedom I allowed him that liberty. In this meeting 
the Gospel was so effectually preached by Roger Haydock, a 
minister of Jesus Christ, that when William Ellis came from 
that meeting, it did plainly appear to me and others, that he 
was not only convinced of the way of Truth and righteous- 
ness, but also in a good measure brought into obedience to 
the same. He was soon tried, and he resisted many delights, 
pleasures and vanities which before he had served, and been 
in bondage to ; and he was now in an extraordinary manner, 
awakened to righteousness. It is with me to say, and 
surely believed by me, that he witnessed the day which the 
prophet foretold, Mai. iii. 1, 3, — " The Lord whom ye seek 
shall suddenly come to Ins temple, even the Messenger of 
the Covenant/'' — " and He shall sit as a refiner, and purifier 
of silver, and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge 
them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord 
an offering in righteousness." I had the opportunity daily 
for about three years, to observe his life and conversation, he 
living about so long a time with my said husband, from and 
after the day of his convincement ; in all which time he was 
of a humble, peaceable, and self-denying life, and was cir- 
cumspect both in his words and ways, lest he should offend 
the Lord. His conversation did declare his love and pure 
zeal to God and his commandments. Matt. xxii. 37 — 39, 
" Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and 
with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and 
great commandment ; and the second is like unto it, Thou 
shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." 

Certain I am that he was faithful and laborious in his 
service to us, and a good example to our servants ; a reprover 
of vice and of the appearance of evil in our children, and 



250 LIFE AND COKRESPONDENCE OF 

often lie did restrain them from vanity and that which corrupts 
youth. Also he was one that often, when he might have 
slept, laboured with his hands, that he might get to meetings, 
and he did use often to retire after he had done our ser- 
vice, into places more free from noise and hurry. He 
loved Friends that were honestly minded, whether poor or 
rich, but was more especially a visiter of the needy; he 
loved all our neighbours that in any measure were well 
minded; he often suffered and was reviled for confessing 
Christ before men by a holy, innocent, harmless life ; and 
once as he was passing on a First-day through Skipton, on 
the account of religious worship, he was by violent hands, 
taken and imprisoned in the toll-booth ; and in these and 
many more trials he met withal, his mind was borne up 
with much patience and a Christian-like spirit, rejoicing that 
he was a sufferer for Truth's sake. Thus, he having through 
faith in Christ Jesus, denied himself of what the glory, 
friendship, and wisdom of this world could promise unto 
him, it pleased the Lord to give him an earnest of a glorious 
and heavenly kingdom that endures for ever. Not long 
after he went from us to live at Airton again, he bore a 
public and faithful testimony, attended with power and 
authority from heaven. The grace given him was not 
bestowed on him in vain ; for in it he faithfully laboured, 
and was concerned abundantly, that many might be made 
partakers of the heavenly calling. And as he preached the 
Kingdom of Heaven faithfully, so he held forth the true 
means and way to it ; he did not make use of other men's 
lines till he was made a witness thereof himself; neither 
laid burdens on other men's shoulders that he did not lay 
hold on with all his might ; for the marrow of pure religion 
was displayed by him. He visited the fatherless and widows 
in their afflictions, and others under necessities ; and as 
God Almighty had blessed him with a generous mind and 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 251 

temper of doing good, it often prospered in his hands, so 
that he saw many relieved by the unspeakable ways and 
means which God made him instrumental in ; whereof, in an 
extraordinary manner, I was a partaker many times during 
the space of twenty-six years, I being a widow so long. And 
he sympathised with those under spiritual want. Being 
travelling on the account of his service in the ministry in the 
year 1688, though several miles from my family (as himself 
told me), there was a concern came upon hhn touching my 
eldest son, called Jacob, so that when he returned he came 
to visit us, and finding him sick and weak, he was concerned 
in prayer and supplication to the Lord for him, which was 
acceptable ; so that my son, who many times before had 
spoken to me Iris dissatisfaction, touching his future well- 
being, declared unto me his satisfaction, with much assu- 
rance, concerning a lively and eternal hope given him, 
whilst William was yet praying ; in which hope, having also 
received an heavenly earnest, he continued to the time he 
was taken out of this life, which was about two weeks after, 
and on the 20th day of the 11th mo. 1688. As touching 
more of William Ellis's works, and the labour he was con- 
cerned in for the good of the church, in particular and 
general, in this nation and other nations, I hope a further 
account may be given, to the end that our heavenly Father 
may be glorified, and that we may bring forth much good 
fruit. 

Abigail Stott. 



252 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 



CHAPTER XYII1. 



The Testimony of Alice Ellis concerning her Husband. Thomas Thomp- 
son's Testimony concerning William Ellis. A Brief Account of the 
Life and Death of William Ellis from Settle Monthly Meeting. The 
Testimony of York Quarterly Meeting concerning William Ellis. 



The following Testimonies respecting William Ellis were 
printed in a pamphlet entitled, " A Brief Account of the 
Life and Death, and some of the Gospel Labours of that 
faithful Servant and Minister of Jesus Christ, William Ellis/' 
" London : Printed and sold by J. Sowle, in White Hart 
Court, in Gracious Street, 1710." Eew copies of this 
tract, are now to be found ; it presents a summary of the 
life and labours of William Ellis, and consequently claims a 
place in this volume. 



The Testimony of Alice Ellis concerning her dear husband. 

"■ He was a man that feared God and eschewed evil : his 
delight was in Truth's prosperity ; for which he travailed 
both in body and mind ; not satisfying himself with a bare 
speaking of things, or exhorting of others to practice pure 
religion, but he himself was careful to practice the same. 
He was zealous for the honour of God; in his ministry 
powerful ; and fervent in prayer ; it being as meat and drink 
unto him to serve the Lord and his people. He was a 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 253 

loving husband ; and in great unity and fellowship, we lived 
together, and had the blessing of being meet helps one to 
another, both spiritually and temporally, being married 
above twenty-two years ; in all which time I do not remem- 
ber of any angry words that passed betwixt us. I had great 
unity with his travels in Truth's service ; having many times 
a sense thereof upon my own spirit, before he hath acquainted 
me therewith. 

"The loss of him deeply affects my heart, and causes 
sorrow many times to take hold upon me; but not like 
those that sorrow without hope, I being fully persuaded that 
my loss is his gain, and desiring that I may so walk, and 
finish my course in the Truth, that when it shall be my lot 
to follow him, I may partake of that joy and glory into 
which, it is my belief, he is already entered, and lives to 
praise the great and mighty God for ever and evermore. 
He was also a kind friend and a good neighbour, delighting 
to do good unto all, but especially to the household of faith. 

" I shall not much further enlarge, knowing that several 
of his dear friends and brethren, with whom he was much 
conversant, and engaged in Truth's service, have given a 
more full account of his convincement, labours and travels 
in the work of the ministry, and service of the church of 
Christ, both in this nation, and other countries beyond the 
seas. But with hearty desires that our most gracious God 
may raise up many faithful men and women, to bear witness 
unto his unchangeable Truth, such as are lovers of God, and 
will feed the flock of Christ, of a willing mind, I shall 
conclude, and am a well-wisher to Zion's prosperity, and to 
all such as love the Truth of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Alice Ellis. 
The 10th of 2nd mo. 1710." 



254 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 



Thomas Thompson's Testimony concerning William Ellis. 

' ' It is in my heart to give forth this testimony concerning 
my dear friend and brother in Christ, William Ellis, whom I 
dearly loved, esteemed, and honoured, for the works' sake, 
whereunto he was called, and wherein he approved himself a 
faithful labourer, until He, who called him, gathered him 
into that rest which is glorious, there to enjoy the effects of 
his faith and fruits of his labours everlastingly. 

"This I can, and do testify, from a certain knowledge, 
that he was a man that loved and feared God ; and as he 
loved the Lord with all his heart, so he sought to exalt the 
Lord's name, and he stood against wickedness, being filled 
with zeal for the glory of God, who had anointed him to 
preach the everlasting Gospel to them that dwell on the 
earth, and had given him a good understanding in things 
appertaining to his kingdom. In the ^ear 16S6, it was his 
lot to visit Eriends' Meetings in the east part of Yorkshire, 
and I, with many others, may say, that he came amongst us 
in the blessing of the Gospel of Christ, in whose dread he 
sounded forth the day of the Lord, and proclaimed liberty 
to the captives. Dreadful was he to the workers of iniquity, 
who often felt the weight and force of his weapon, i. e., the 
word of God, which was as a fire in his heart, and as a sword 
dividing betwixt that which served God and that which 
served him not ; but to the mourner in Zion his words were 
sweeter than honey and smoother than oil. 

" Erom that time I became acquained with him, and found 
him to be more in the root than in appearance ; his company 
was pleasant, his conversation easy and delightful. A great 
lover of unity and concord was he, and he laboured greatly 
to promote the same among his brethren ; his concern was 
great for the increase of the government of Christ, and for 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 255 

the promotion of good order and discipline in the Chnrch ; 
he struck at vice,, encouraged virtue, and laboured with all 
his might, that Zion might have on her beautiful attire, that 
so she might shine in the light and glory of her Head and 
Husband. And as he abhorred pride, so he commended 
humility both in practice and doctrine, being himself plain 
and exemplary, free from affecting popularity, and his testi- 
mony being lively and instructive, full of marrow and sub- 
stance, though not decked with florid expressions or rhetori- 
cal strains. It was not wisdom of words that he minded, 
nor how to please itching ears ; but to please God was his 
care, and to preach the Gospel so to men, as that what he 
spake might answer God's witness in all ; and therefore he 
preached the Truth in the power, plainness, and simplicity of 
it; and yet at times there did, a sort of an heavenly elo- 
quence, as well as an heavenly melody, attend him, because 
his heart was rilled with the Spirit of life, and he spoke in 
the power and demonstration thereof, — he spake as one that 
had authority, and not as the Scribes, — and as the Lord had 
led him through many states, and been with him in many 
conditions, so He gave him, many times, a word in season, 
not only to the weary traveller for his encouragement, but 
that which suited divers states and conditions ; yea, to my 
knowledge, he hath often hit the mark, and spoken to people's 
states in a meeting, as if he had known them, though he was 
at that time altogether a stranger. Truth opened things to 
him, and through him, to the comfort and satisfaction of 
such as loved and lived in the fear of God. He was beloved 
in his own country, respected in his travels, both in England, 
Ireland, and America, for the Truth's sake, in which he was 
serviceable to many. He was a generous man, and a good 
Christian, given to hospitality, apt to teach. Example in 
him went along with precept, not being more forward to 
advise others to do good, and to be liberal to the poor, than 



256 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

lie was to do so and be so himself. In a word, as his life, 
since he received the blessed Truth, was a continued series of 
evidences of the goodness of God, the Almighty helped him 
so to walk and finish his course, as that he hath left a good 
savour behind him, and his memorial is precious. 



Thomas Thompson. 



Hitchen, Hertfordshire, 
31st of the 5th mo. 1710. 



A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND DEATH OF WILLIAM 
ELLIS, FROM SETTLE MONTHLY MEETING. 

"William Ellis, son of Stephen Ellis, of Calton, a town not 
far distant from Skipton in Craven, in the County of York, 
was born in the 8th month, 1658. His father was by trade 
a linen-weaver, and instructed his son William in the same 
trade, when capable thereof, until he attained to the age of 
sixteen years, about which time he went to live as a servant 
with John Stott, of Skipton aforesaid, linen- weaver, with 
whom, after having lived the space of two years, it so fell 
out, that there was a meeting held at Lower Bradley, two 
miles distant from the place where he then lived. That 
faithful servant of Jesus Christ, Roger Haydock, providen- 
tially happened to be at this meeting ; and William having 
knowledge thereof, and his master and dame being of that 
Society of people in scorn called Quakers, he asked leave of 
them to go thereto, who readily replied, he might go. At 
this meeting his heart and understanding were so effectually 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 257 

readied, that he was thoroughly convinced of the ever blessed 
Truth, which he, quickly after, was concerned to promote 
the honour of, being of a circumspect carriage and behaviour 
amongst the family in which he then lived, thereby shewing 
a good example to his master's children, like Joseph, of old, 
in whose heart the fear of God was, evidently manifesting 
Iris growth and prosperity therein. After the space of three 
years from the time of his convincement, he removed to 
Airton, a town near adjoining to the place where he was 
born. Soon after Iris removal he was livingly opened in a 
public testimony to and for the Truth he was made partaker 
of ; and in due time he became an able minister thereof ; 
approving himself yet more and more a good example 
therein to others. And it is worth our observation, that 
although he had little or nothing from his father, he being 
but of low circumstances in the world, yet he soon began to 
be helpful in the Church, by distributing towards the relief of 
the poor, out of what he got by hard labour and great dili- 
gence and industry in his calling, and part of which also he 
freely spent upon Truth's account in other ways. He freely 
gave up a great deal of his time to attend meetings, not only 
such as were for public worship, but also meetings for 
business and the affairs of the church : he was a diligent 
attender of these while but young; and though he was 
not forward to speak in such meetings, having a reverent 
esteem for, and regard to, them that were in Christ before 
him, and kept their places, yet he was in those times ser- 
viceable, being in a deep and weighty travail for the honour 
and prosperity of Truth, and that the wisdom of God might 
open in Eriends, that therein, all things relating to the 
church's affairs, might be managed. But it was not long 
ere that divine and living spring of life, that often opened 
plentifully in him to the filling of his heart, gave him 
boldness to speak forth what was upon his mind, in meetings 

s 



258 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

for business, in which he was well received, being always 
careful to speak in fear, and in a sense and savour of life, 
demonstrating thereby a Christian spirit, in which he was a 
good pattern and lively example to others, always demeaning 
himself in great humility, so that he became very serviceable, 
both in the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings to which he 
belonged, and in other meetings for the same service, in 
other places where his lot was cast, he being zealously con- 
cerned to promote and establish good order and sound 
discipline in the Church of Christ. 

And although, as before observed, his beginning was 
but small, having little or nothing save what he laboured 
for, yet it pleased God to bless his endeavours with success, 
so that his outward substance increased; and as that was 
enlarged, so his heart opened, and he gladly made use of 
opportunities in winch he might lay out a great part thereof 
in the service of Truth. He often exhorted Friends to keep 
out of worldly-mindedness, and to labour to keep themselves 
from being leavened into a strait, niggardly and narrow 
spirit, that would not suffer them to serve Truth freely, 
as they ought to do ; this in all likelihood he had good 
authority to do, being himself a good example in this respect; 
for although he was industriously careful, and not negligent, 
nor slothful about his outward concerns, whereby his sub- 
stance in the world did considerably increase, yet would he 
not impute the same to his own doings, neither was his 
mind much taken up therewith ; he looked upon it only as 
the favour of the Almighty to him, and therefore thought 
himself under the greater obligation to lay out the same to 
the utmost of his strength and ability, in order to promote 
the interest of Truth, and the honour of that worthy and 
precious Name, in which he had believed, and which had 
also been Ins strong tower and rock of defence, in the depth 
of many exercises. It may be truly said, he was abundantly 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 259 

more industriously concerned on account of the Truth, than 
on the account of his outward and temporal affairs ; and as, 
after the time of his convincement, he was all along careful 
to behave himself so as that he might not be a burden, or 
cause of exercise to his faithful brethren, nor bring trouble 
in any case upon the church, but on the contrary, be ser- 
viceable and helpful to the same according to his measure, 
so was he also careful to walk among his neighbours and 
those he conversed with, as that he might demonstrate unto 
all, that the whole aim and drift of his mind was chiefly to 
promote Truth and righteousness in his day and age. And 
this undoubtedly he did, with all his might and strength, for 
which we believe his reward is sure with the Lord for ever- 
more; an earnest of which we are fully satisfied he had 
many times plentifully given him, whilst in this earthly 
tabernacle. This was so sweet unto him, as he often used 
to say, that for the sake thereof, lie did not spare devoutly 
to offer up his whole strength, and the prime of his years, 
even for the promotion of the blessed Truth, by which he 
had been so eminently visited, and whereby he was made 
instrumental for the good of many. Under these qualifica- 
tions he was made serviceable divers ways, so that many 
have cause to lament the loss of him, and more particularly 
we, his friends and brethren, amongst whom, for the most 
part, he resided, who also had the most immediate and par- 
ticular benefit of Ins service and company. The loss of him 
would undoubtedly sadden many hearts, were they not fully 
satisfied that his departure was in peace ; and though his 
body be gone to the dust, yet the remembrance of him is 
sweet and precious, in which the faithful enjoy him in spirit, 
under a lively hope, that the mighty Lord of the harvest, 
who raised him from a low degree, and by his almighty 
power, made him a blessed and serviceable instrument in his 
hand, is also able to raise up others in his room, for the 

s 2 



260 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

carrying on of his own work, to his own praise, who over all 
is worthy of praise, adoration and worship, might, majesty 
and dominion, now and for ever. 

Thus having given some account of his convincemeut, 
and conduct of his life, relating to his conversation in the 
world; what remains is to give some further account of 
his ministry, and labours and travels therein. It was not 
long, as hath been before observed, after he was convinced, 
before his mouth was opened in a publie testimony for the 
Truth, in which he sensibly witnessed a growth, being care- 
ful diligently to wait for the springings of life, which is the 
root and supply of all sound and right ministry ; for he 
laboured more to grow in that, than in words without it, 
although also very careful to keep to that soundness of 
speech that cannot be condemned. 

Not very long after he was concerned in a public testi- 
mony, he was drawn forth to visit Friends' meetings not far 
distant from the place of his abode, as also in divers places 
more remote, in which he had good service, and was well 
received among Friends, to his and their mutual joy and 
comfort in the Lord. And in the year 169J, he had a 
concern upon his mind to visit the meetings of Friends in 
Ireland, where he was likewise kindly received ; his visit 
being acceptable to faithful Friends in that country. Under 
this concern he was enabled through the goodness of God 
unto him, to perform what was required of him in that respect, 
returning home again in much satisfaction and peace, as a 
reward for such, his labour. After this he continued in his 
wonted service, both at home and abroad, many times visit- 
ing Friends in divers parts of this nation, till at length, it 
pleased the Lord to concern him to visit the people of God, 
in foreign countries, to which he gave up ; and way being 
made for him, for such a service, and having the concur- 
rence of his Friends and brethren along with him therein, 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 261 

at length he set forward on his journey and voyage for 
America, leaving his wife and family, in the Ninth Month, 
1697. He took shipping at Deal, in Kent, in the Tenth 
Month after. He had a prosperous voyage, arriving on the 
fourteenth day of the First Month following, in Maryland, 
where he visited Friends and had much service, as well as in 
other provinces, as Yirginia, Carolina, Pennsylvania, East 
and West Jersey, New England, Long Island and Rhode 
Island, &c. In these countries he had many large and 
precious meetings, esteeming it, as he would often say after 
Ms return, as a merciful favour to him from the hand of 
God, that he was enabled to go through what was required 
of him in that respect, adding, " Oh ! it was well for me, 
that I gave up to that service in those days, whilst health 
and strength of body were afforded me, for now, I feel my 
natural strength is abated, whereby I am the more incapable 
of performing such service/'' Notwithstanding this, he 
would often be looking back with joy, and rejoicing at those 
times, praising God for the many mercies vouchsafed to him 
inwardly, and whose divine arm of power was likewise near 
to protect hiin on his return; he arriving again in England, 
the twenty-third of the Fourth Month, 1699. He was 
absent from his native land in the aforesaid service, upwards 
of one year and six months. After this he travelled not 
very much, excepting in the county where he lived, and 
some adjacent counties, as Bishoprick, Westmoreland, and 
Lancashire, &c. and several times to the Yearly Meeting at 
London. He was for several years before he died, attended 
with various infirmities, and particularly that of the stone, 
which much impaired his health ; nevertheless he mostly 
frequented the Quarterly and Monthly Meetings to which he 
belonged, though many times with much difficulty, because 
of the infirmities of his body ; but at divers times when 
the life and power of Truth was upon him, he was borne up 



262 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OP 

over his infirmity as though he were in no kind so afflicted. 
Thus this faithful and upright-hearted man, being now 
unfit for long journeys, and service in remote places, such as 
he spared not to undertake when he found it his concern in 
his younger years, laboured much in the service of Truth, 
on one account or other in his own country, till toward the 
latter end of the summer, in the year 1708, at which time 
his old distemper seized violently upon him, insomuch that 
he was thereby brought very weak, which weakness he con- 
tinued under for several months, not being able to stir much 
from his own house. In this time his inward man was 
strong and his understanding clear ; so that Friends who 
went to visit him in the time of his sickness, were often 
comfortably refreshed in beholding and feeling his spirit in 
the power and dominion of the life of Jesus Christ, which 
may truly be said, was his support over all his exercises. 
But notwithstanding his former weakness, about the latter 
end of the Twelfth Month or beginning of the First Month 
following, he begun to recover somewhat, and gathered 
strength so far as to get to the Monthly and Quarterly 
Meetings to which he belonged. In these he had as 
formerly, good service, after which he was likewise enabled 
to go to the Yearly Meeting for worship, held in Lancaster, 
in the Second Month, 1709. In this meeting, powerful 
was that Hand and Arm, which guided and supported him, 
under the conduct whereof, eminent were the Gospel truths, 
which in that meeting were through him delivered, to the 
gladdening of many hearts ; the service whereof, we believe, 
will not easily be forgotten by a remnant, and in which his 
faith was strong, that Truth and the glory of it should yet 
more and more prevail and spread over nations, even from 
sea to sea, unto the uttermost parts of the earth. 

Thus having been supported by the Lord in his service, 
after that meeting ended, he returned homewards, after 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 263 

which he weakened by degrees till the time of his departure, 
which was not long. Many sweet and edifying expressions 
dropped from him in his illness, by which it appeared he 
was ready to embrace death with cheerfulness of mind, when- 
ever it should please the Lord so to order it. A few days 
before his departure, being visited by a Friend, he began to 
speak to him of the day of his convincement, saying, " It was 
a glorious day for me ; " and further added, that he had 
large tokens that the day of his death would be so likewise, 
which we have good cause to believe was so to him. He 
continued sensible, under his weakness of body, until the 
time he drew his last breath, which was on the 4th day of 
the 4th month, in the year 1709, and in the fifty-first year 
of his age. He was buried on the 11th day of the same 
month, in Friends'' burying ground at Airton ; many Friends 
being present at the burial made up a large meeting, which 
was eminently owned and overshadowed with the Lord's 
power and presence, several living testimonies being there 
borne to the comfort and satisfaction of many, [The said 
burying ground and meeting-house were, some years before 
his death, given and secured by the said William Ellis for 
the use of Friends.] 

William Ellis was born the 5th of the 8th month, 1658, 
convinced of Truth in the 3rd month, 1676, came forth in 
a public testimony, 1679, died the 4th of the 4th month, 
1709. 

Signed in behalf of our Monthly Meeting, held at Settle, 
the second of the First Month, 170^, by 

John Armistead, sen. William Holt 

Thomas Read John King 

John Tomlinson Lawrence King 

Richard Wilkinson Adam Squire 

Thomas Wilde Thomas Carr 



264 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

John Moore, sen. Simeon Wilkinson 

William Windle John Eawson 

John Atkinson Joseph Hall 

John Armistead, jun. Richard Clough 

Robert Ttmstall William Stockdale 

John Weatherall John Battersbie 

WilHam Birkbeck William Slater 

Isaac Armistead John Moore, jun. 



The Testimony of the Quarterly Meeting held at York, 
concerning William Ellis. 

" Our dear friend and deceased brother, William Ellis, of 
Airton, within Settle Monthly Meeting, in the County of 
York, departed this life the 4th of the 4th month, 1709. 
He was a faithful labourer in the harvest of the Lord ; he 
gave himself to spend, and be spent in Truth's service, both 
in feeding the flock of God, as also in the overseeing the 
same. Being an able minister of the New Testament, not of 
the letter but of the Spirit, his doctrine dropping down like 
dew, and like small rain upon the tender grass, the Spirit of 
God accompanying him in the delivery of the same, he was 
of great comfort and benefit unto the Churches, both at 
home and abroad, where the Lord did order him. The care 
of the Churches was also upon him, for the peace and pros- 
perity of which he travailed both in body and mind. His 
labours and service for the work of the Gospel were much, 
both in our nation and in several foreign countries, in which 
he approved himself, as an able and faithful minister of our 
Lord Jesus Christ, encouraging and strengthening the honest 
and tender-hearted, to hold on their way, to the perfecting 
of the work of their salvation ; as also in warning and 
stirring up the careless and unfaithful, to more diligence and 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 265 

watchfulness. He preached with authority, in the spirit of 
the Gospel and the remembrance of him, and of the heavenly 
sweetness that attended his ministry (who though dead, yet 
speak eth) is precious unto us, and the unity and harmony 
which we had together with him, cannot easily be forgotten 
by us. His doctrine was deep, and his company very 
pleasant to his brethren ; he was given to charity, and used 
hospitality much, his heart and house being very open to 
entertain such as travelled, or were concerned in Truth's 
service. Much might be said in the praise of such a faithful 
minister, who not only preached, but in practice was exem- 
plary to the flock ; but Friends of the Monthly Meeting of 
Settle, to which he did belong, having drawn up an account 
of the same, we refer to it for further satisfaction, touching 
his labours and travels, both in the work of the ministry 
and other services of the Church of Christ Jesus our Lord ; 
beseeching Him who is Lord of the Harvest, to send many 
such faithful labourers into his harvest. As he lived in the 
Truth, so we believe he died in the Lord, and now is at rest 
from his labours, and Ins works follow him. 

Signed on behalf of our Quarterly Meeting, held at York, 
the 6th of the 2nd month, 1710. 

Thomas Green Thomas Aldam 

Benjamin Hornor Jeremiah Grimshaw 

Robert Turner John Fothergill 

James Simpson John Richardson 

Michael Robinson Aaron Atkinson 

John Hillary William Armistead 

John Fielden Francis Smith 

Thomas Hammond Henry Jackson, jun. 



%66 LTFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 



CHAPTER XIX 



Meeting-house at Airton. "William Ellis's House. Provision for the 
Free Entertainment of Ministering Friends. "William and Alice 
Ellis's Gift for Putting out Apprentices. Alice Ellis's Legacies and 
Arrangements for the Entertainment of Friends. Decease of Alice 
Ellis, and Testimony Concerning Her. Present state of Airton 
Meeting, and Settle Monthly Meeting. 



The Meeting-house at Airton, which is represented in the 
frontispiece of this volume, as sketched by Thomas Tatham, 
of Settle, stands with its back to the village street. On the 
opposite side of this street, William Ellis erected his own 
dwelling, in the style of a comfortable farm-house. There 
is, over a doorway which has been walled up, in the front of 
this house, the date of 1690 with the initials w e a. Over an 
ample arch of neat structure, inclosing the fire-place in the 
kitchen-sitting-room, there are the same initials, with the 
date, 1702. This date is also on the fire grate of the same 
room. In a wider portion of the street, and a little higher 
up, a dial formerly stood, mounted upon a pillar by William 
Ellis ; and it is not to the credit of the village, that this 
mouument of his public spiritedness has long since been 
suffered to be removed. The pillar is now lying in an 
obscure corner of the burial-ground attached to the Meeting- 
house. 

As the great object of the lives of William and Alice Ellis 
was to promote the maintenance and spreading of the sound 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 267 

Christian principles in which they found peace with God 
through Jesus Christ, so they made arrangements to pro- 
mote the promulgation of these principles in perpetuity, in 
the place in which they lived, by providing for the enter- 
tainment of such ministers free of charge, as should uphold 
these principles. 

Through a large portion of their lives, this worthy couple 
had entered with much sympathy into the condition of 
youths placed out as apprentices, particularly of those in low 
circumstances. Many of these had come under their own 
care, being apprenticed to William Ellis to learn the art of 
weaving linens. Their care for these youths and other 
persons in their employ, both temporally and spiritually, will 
have been gathered from some of the earlier letters in this 
collection ; and toward the close of life, William and Alice 
Ellis provided funds designed to perpetuate such care, and 
in other respects to help the poorer class of youths by 
putting them out apprentices to suitable masters. 

Eor these objects William Ellis, some years after his 
return from America, conveyed his house, with certain lands 
to trustees, retaining the use of them for the remainder of 
the joint lives of himself and his wife, and directing them 
" after the death of the survivor to farm the said premises, a 
pennyworth unto Eriends, by way of scorn called Quakers, 
who should willingly entertain such Teachers as might be 
called of God, and by him commissioned and sent abroad to 
preach the Gospel in the free dispensation thereof;" of which 
said Teachers the Earmer or other inhabitants of the said pre- 
mises should take no reward or satisfaction for such lodging 
or entertainment, nor have the same allowed out of the 
yearly rents by the Trustees. After deducting the cost of 
repairs, with yearly taxes and reasonable expenses, the first 
year's rent of these premises was to be paid by the Trustees, 
to the Eriends of the Monthly Meeting of Settle, for putting 



£68 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

forth the poor children of Friends to some honest and plain 
trades. The second year's rent in like manner was to be 
paid to the Friends of the Quarterly Meeting at York ; and 
the third year's rent to be employed in putting forth to be 
apprentices unto Friends, the poor children of the inhabitants 
of Airton, Calton and Scostrop, of what profession soever, 
to honest and plain trades. Alternately and successively the 
rents were to be applied to these purposes. None of the 
Trustees are chosen out of Settle Monthly Meeting, but 
on the decease of any of them, that Meeting nominates 
others from other parts of the county, to the Quarterly 
Meeting of York, by which they are appointed. The 
original Trustees were Thomas Carr, John Tomlinson, and 
John Rawson. 

Soon after the death of William Ellis, his widow, for 
the full answering and further ratifying the will and mind of 
her late husband, conveyed her house and premises then in 
her possession or in that of any other person under her, which 
had fallen to her either by the gift of her husband or by 
virtue of her executorship to his will, being chattels or lease- 
hold, to Henry Jackson, jun. Michael Milner, Thomas 
Aldam, Francis Harrison, John Fothergill, and Bossall 
Middleton, to let and set the same premises to farm " a good 
pennyworth/'' to snch person of the. people called Quakers, 
as should willingly at the said mansion or dwelling-house 
entertain such teachers as might travel amongst the said 
people, to preach the Gospel, they being in society and unity 
with the said people ; of which persons who might so come 
unto or lodge at their house, the farmer or dweller upon the 
said house or lands should take no reward or satisfaction for 
such entertainment or lodging, provided such a tenant could 
be got. The rents accruing were, after deducting repairs, 
yearly taxes, and reasonable expenses, to be applied as 
follows : — The first year's clear rent toward putting forth 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 

poor children of the people called Quakers, apprentices, who 
inhabit within the compass of Settle Monthly Meeting, to 
some honest and plain trade ; and the second yearns clear 
rent in putting forth poor children of the people called 
Quakers, belonging to the Quarterly Meeting of York, and 
inhabitants of the said county, apprentices to some honest 
and plain trade ; and the rents of the third year were to be 
employed in putting forth poor children apprentices who 
should be inhabitants of Airton, Calton and Scostrop, of 
what profession soever, to honest and plain trades, to be 
placed to learn them with some of the people called Quakers, 
if such masters could be got. If the inhabitants of Airton, 
Calton and Scostrop should sue or disturb, or call to account 
in any court any of the Trustees in regard to the said trust, 
they were thenceforth debarred from any further interest in 
the trust. 

Alice Ellis also conveyed to Eichard Wilkinson, Eobert 
Tunstall, John Moor, John Tomlinson, Simeon Wilkinson, 
and John Eawson, a close called Welldales, in the precincts 
of Calton, the rents of which, after certain small deductions, 
were to be applied in paying the tenant of the house in 
which she then dwelt, for the lodging and entertainment of 
such honest and faithful Friends as might have occasion on 
Truth's service to travel, and were in unity with the Monthly 
Meetings to which they should belong. The said tenant 
was to make account yearly to the Trustees ; and any over- 
plus to be paid in yearly to the Friends of Settle Monthly 
Meeting, for the relief of the poor not maintained at the 
common charge of Friends, and especially, poor widows. 

Alice Ellis by will left two closes, with other premises and 
her personal estate, to John Moor, Thomas Carr, Simeon 
Wilkinson, and John Eawson, to pay out of the same her 
just debts and funeral expenses, as well as sundry small 
legacies ; and after the payment of these and other incidental 



270 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF 

charges, she directed that the clear yearly profits thereof 
should be disposed of at the discretion of her trustees and 
their successors, with the consent and advice of the Monthly 
Meeting of the people called Quakers, held at Settle, and 
therefore commonly called Settle Monthly Meeting, to such 
of the poorer sort of the said people, especially widows living 
within the compass thereof, that are not constantly supplied; 
and by " A Declaration of Uses " she signified her wish that 
the great bedsteads and the bedding thereunto belonging, 
with what other things were nailfast and ought properly to 
stand as heirlooms or appurtenances to the house at Airton, 
in which she then dwelt, should remain either there or in 
the house which she had converted into a dwelling-house, 
for the use of such Friend or Friends as might inhabit there, 
in order the better to accommodate them for the entertaining 
of travelling Friends. Also that six men's coats, and six 
women's hoods which had been kept for the use of travelling 
Friends who might have occasion for them by reason of wet 
or other foul weather, either in attending meeting or upon 
any other honest or lawful occasion, should be kept for the 
same use, and like the furniture be renewed or repaired so 
long as her trustees should see meet. She likewise directed, 
that in case there should be a clear annual surplus of four 
pounds accruing from her effects, that then, once in three 
years, the sum of four pounds should be paid to the Quar- 
terly Meeting at York, to be employed in the relief of the 
poorer sort of Friends, especially such widows as were not 
constantly supplied by Friends. 

In this manner arose " William and Alice Ellis's Gift for 
putting out Apprentices/' and the other benefactions herein 
noticed, by which the names of the worthy donros have 
become familiarised to the ears of many, by whom their 
virtuous example and their desire for the extension of the 
Redeemer's kingdom, have been little known. 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 271 

Alice Ellis survived her husband eleven years ; her age is 
not known, the record of her birth not having been found, 
nor any document by which her age could be ascertained. 
Her decease is not to be found in the register of the 
Monthly Meeting ; but the following Testimony, with the 
notice of her death and burial, was found among some loose 
papers, preserved with the records of Settle Monthly Meeting. 



Cf Alice Ellis, wife of William Ellis, late of Airton, in the 
County of York, died the 27th of the 5th month, and was 
buried the 30th of the same, in Eriends' burying ground, at 
Airton aforesaid, in the year 1720. 

A Short Testimony, given by Eriends of Settle Monthly 
Meeting, concerning Alice Ellis, deceased. 

We find ourselves concerned, for the Truth's sake, and in 
duty that we owe to the memory of our said deceased Eriend, 
to give forth the following account, and to say of her, that 
ever since the time of our first acquaintance with her, she 
hath shown evident demonstration of great love to, and zeal 
for, the promotion of the blessed, holy Truth, she made 
profession of; both by her conversation amongst us, her 
friends, and also amongst people of other persuasions. It 
being her great care to walk inoffensively before all men, her 
conversation amongst us was very exemplary, in many 
respects, more than can be mentioned here; yet we shall 
say a little thereof, that others may be the more excited and 
stirred up to follow her pious and godly example ; that so 
they may at last attain to the like blessed end, which we 
doubt not, she is arrived at. 

She was a very constant attender of Eirst-day and week- 
day meetings, at the meeting places she belonged to ; and 



272 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OE 

also accompanied travelling Friends very often to neigh- 
bouring meetings, wherein she manifested great ^igence in 
a spiritual concern and travail, for a full enjoyment of divine 
love and life in her own particular ; and also that the same 
might abound, and be plentifully shed abroad in the hearts of 
others, in the meetings where it was her lot to be. And we 
believe her travail and labour of spirit were answered to a 
good degree, relating to herself, wherein she seemed to be 
much comforted ; and sometimes she appeared in a public 
testimony, when constrained thereto by the operation and 
aboundings of the divine love and power of God in her 
heart ; which [testimony] was very acceptable to the faith- 
ful ; being delivered in great fervency and zeal, it had a 
tendency to stir up the minds of Friends to labour for the 
enjoyment of Truth in themselves, and also to promote the 
honour thereof in all respects. She was also a very constant 
attender of meetings for the business and affairs of the 
church, viz. the Preparative and Monthly Meetings ; and 
while she had health and strength of body, was a diligent 
attender of Quarterly Meetings also : in all which she was 
very serviceable amongst her own sex, being zealously 
concerned that the younger women might keep to the decent 
plainness in. apparel that Truth led Friends into in the 
beginning, and such as the Apostle spake of in his Epistle 
to Timothy; and that they might, in apparel and gesture, 
keep out of vain modes and foolish fashions of the world, 
which render those who are found therein too much like the 
daughters of Zion spoken against by the prophet Isaiah, in 
ancient times. She also showed a godly and christian con- 
cern and care that things might be well in all respects 
amongst Friends, freely giving advice when she saw occasion ; 
and also being herself a good example in doing that she 
advised others to. She had a tender regard to the poor 
amongst all sorts of people, and took great delight in 



WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS. 273 

ministering to their wants; being very free to distribute 
part of what she had gained by great pains and industry, when 
she met with suitable opportunities, and it would in any wise 
tend to advance the honour of Truth, amongst Friends, or 
others not of our Society, she being in a particular manner 
devoted to acts of hospitality, in many respects ; the which, 
in her life-time, was evidently demonstrated to be her great 
delight. And not only so, but likewise to the same end and 
purpose, in a peculiar manner, she took care to settle and 
secure the greater part of what she was blessed with, so that 
it might be employed to the same good use after her decease. 
And such was her care and conduct, that although by reason 
of her business in her outward and temporal affairs, she had 
occasion to deal with persons of divers ranks and persuasions, 
she gained a good report from, and was well esteemed by 
most, if not all that she was concerned with. Many both 
poor and others have seemed to lament the loss of her, as 
we, her friends, have likewise cause to do, who have been 
greatly benefited by her company and help for many years ; 
and therefore, now that she is removed from us, find our loss 
to be great. But we desire to be content, and rest satisfied 
in the will of God, who is able to raise up others in her 
room, and to qualify them for the service of his church, to 
his praise and glory, and the comfort of his people. 

We might say much more of the zeal and faithfulness of 
this our friend, but for brevity's sake, shall only further add, 
that it is our firm belief, that it was her hearty and sincere 
desire to serve the Lord, his truth and people, to the utmost 
of her ability, throughout her age and generation ; and that 
he hath helped her to perform the same to a good degree. 
Her reward, we believe, is sure with him, for evermore. 
She departed this life the 27 th of the 5 th month, and was 
buried in Friends'' burying-ground, at Airton aforesaid, the 
30th of the same, in the year 1 720, many Friends and others 

T 



274 LIFE, ETC. OF WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLTS. 

being there. Divers living testimonies were borne to the 
comfort of Friends ; and also several others signified their 
great satisfaction therewith. 

Signed by order and in behalf of our Monthly Meeting, 
held at Settle in Yorkshire, the 1st of 1st mo. 1720-21, by 

John Atkinson Julian Erankland 

"William Holt Eleanor Carr 

Thomas Clarke Alice Atkinson 

Simeon Wilkinson Elizabeth Hall 

John Bawson Eliz. Bradley 

Joseph Hall Hannah Wilkinson 

William Stockdale Eliz. Armistead. 



The present tenant of the house at Airton, formerly 
occupied by William and Alice Ellis, is John Shackleton, a 
Eriend, who, with his family, gladly carries out the design 
of the original occupants, in the hospitable entertainment of 
ministers and other Eriends. The great coats and hoods 
provided by Alice Ellis have long ceased to exist; better 
accommodation for travelling, and the fewness of the visitors 
of the meeting having rendered them unnecessary. A small 
congregation now assembles in the meeting-house at Airton, 
in which also Settle Monthly Meeting is held, in the 
Eifth and Tenth Months. There is at this time no person 
remaining in the Monthly Meeting in the station of an ac- 
knowledged minister ; and the five meetings of Settle, Ben- 
tham, Newton-in-Bolland, Lothersdale and Airton, of which 
the Monthly Meeting is composed are all very small. 



APPENDIX. 



HISTORY OF THE FIRST GATHERING OF FRIENDS IN SETTLE 
MONTHLY MEETING. 

The following document contains a history of the first 
gathering of the Society of Friends in the district comprised 
within Settle Monthly Meeting ; it leads to the period in 
which their farther history for nearly twenty years may be 
traced in the preceding pages. It also exhibits an interesting 
view of the spirit of inquiry excited in that age, and which 
seems to have been increased by the aspersions ignorantly or 
maliciously cast upon the simple and truly Christian principles 
professed by Friends. The zeal of the early Friends, and 
the simplicity of the proceedings and the sufferings of these 
early promulgators of the plain truth of the Gospel, as well 
as the power and convincing efficacy attending their ministry, 
deserve especial notice. 



Minute of Settle Monthly Meeting, Ilth mo. 3rd, 1704. 

P '" John Moore, Joseph Nicholson, Thomas Camm, and 
William Armistead, give account, that according as they 
were desired by Friends at our last Monthly Meeting, they 
did collect the several accounts they now brought in from 
the several particular meetings, touching the labours, suffer- 
ings, and services of ancient Friends, not yet in print, which 

t 2 



276 APPENDIX. 

being so collected and transcribed in one, was delivered to 
Friends at the Quarterly Meeting, and a copy thereof reserved 
in this meeting, which is as followeth : 



" From our Monthly Meeting, held at Settle, the 22nd of the 
10th month, 1704, to the Quarterly Meeting at York. 

Dear Friends ; 

According to the request of the Second-day's 
Morning Meeting in London, we have had under our con- 
sideration the most remarkable passages which we can remem- 
ber, touching the faithful labours in the gospel of Christ, 
and effectual service of those who were first instrumental, 
both in gathering and settling meetings, now belonging to 
Settle Monthly Meeting, which do here follow. 

Before the testimony of Truth, or the way of worshipping 
of God in spirit, was published or declared in this latter age, 
by the messengers and servants of the Lord, in these parts 
of the country, there was much talk and discussion, of a 
people who were scattered up and down the country, and 
more especially in the west and northern parts thereof, who 
differed from other people in their belief concerning the prin- 
ciples of religion, and worshipping of God ; and in most 
parts they were slandered, vilified and evil spoken of, [people] 
saying that the false prophets were now coming which were 
spoken of in the Scripture. But there were some who pon- 
dered these sayings, and were desirous to know the certainty 
thereof. And in process of time, in or about the year 1652 
or 1653, it was so ordered, that one of the servants and mes- 
sengers of Jesus Christ, namely, "William Dewsbury, came to 
a town called Settle, in the west part of Yorkshire, on a 
market-day, and stood upon the cross, and proclaimed the 



APPENDIX. 



277 



terrible day of the Lord, which was hastening and coming 
upon the ungodly and workers of iniquity ; but he was soon 
pulled down, and a great tumult was made, and he was much 
beaten and abused. But after some time, being taken notice 
of by a young man whose name was John Armistead, (who 
is yet living) was invited to go with him to his mother's 
house, whose name was Alice Armistead, being a widow; 
whither he went and lodged there. And in the evening 
divers people were gathered to the house, it being in the 
said town, unto whom he declared fervently against the 
fruitless profession of religion which was amongst people at 
that time, and directed people to the measure of grace, and 
gift of God's Holy Spirit in their own hearts, whereby they 
might be taught how to worship God acceptably in his own 
Spirit. 

And not long after this, it was so ordered, that another 
servant and minister of the Lord, called John Camm, came 
into the said town, on a market-day, and in the market-place 
began to preach the docrine of repentance, and the way of 
life and salvation, unto the people. But they soon fell upon 
him with violence, and did beat and buffet him very much, 
so that he received many strokes ; yet there were some who 
endeavoured to bear off some blows, and to rid him out of 
their hands ; and after some time he was conducted to the 
house of John Kidd, in Upper Settle, where there was a 
meeting in the evening, and then things relating to the 
kingdom of God were plainly laid down by him. 

Now, these servants of the Lord did not go away without 
leaving some impressions on the souls and spirits of some of 
the inhabitants of the said town, so that they were convinced, 
and came to witness the day of the Lord's power, winch 
broke forth more and more amongst them, notwithstanding 
the cruelty which was used against the servants of the Lord ; 
so that there was a people gathered from the world's ways 



278 APPENDIX. 

and worships, to worship God in spirit ; who for that end and 
purpose met often together for divers years, from house to 
house : and many were convinced of the blessed Truth and 
added to those who at first believed, so that their number 
increased considerably. And in process of time, a public 
meeting-house was builded by the said people in the said 
town of Settle, where a meeting is settled and kept, known 
by the name of Settle Meeting at this day. And moreover, 
from a part of the said meeting, there is now another meeting 
settled, some few miles from Settle, known by the name of 
Selside Meeting ; so that the Truth had wonderfully pre- 
vailed, and does prevail ; blessed be the name of the Lord ! 
Also about the year 1652-3, came several of the servants 
and ministers of Jesus Christ, viz. William Dewsbury, Eichard 
Farnsworth, Thomas Stubbs, Miles Halhead, and James 
Nayler, and preached the everlasting Gospel, by which many 
were turned from darkness to light, and from the power of 
Satan to the power of God. And by their ministry, a meet- 
ing was gathered and settled at Scalehouse, near Skipton, in 
Craven, in Yorkshire ; and Truth gained ground greatly, so 
that several were raised to preach the day of the Lord, and 
salvation to mankind through the revelation of his Son, 
Jesus Christ, in their hearts, of whom Eichard Scostrop was 
one ; who was born the 15th of the 4th mo. 1628, and was a 
persecutor of Priends ; but the hand of the Lord was heavy 
upon him, so that he sought to those whom he had sorely 
abused, and made confession to repentance, and afterward re- 
ceived mercy from the hand of God ; and the Lord's power 
grew strong in him, so that he was made to declare the power 
of God to mankind, and became an able minister of the Gospel, 
and travelled into Scotland and many other places in this 
nation, to turn men from darkness to light. And though 
he was born to some estate, yet for his love to the Lord 
Jesus Christ, he left it all, and spent his days in his service, 



APPENDIX. 279 

and died in his travel beyond the seas ; and his memory is 
sweet this day among the brethren. Also John Hill was 
brought into the work of the ministry, who travelled through 
the most of this nation and Ireland, and some parts of Ger- 
many, exhorting Friends to faithfulness, and to wait for the 
openings of life in them ; and great zeal was upon him to 
stir Friends up to meet together on the week-day, declaring 
how God could sanctify mean things to Friends who gave 
themselves up to serve him in their meetings. He lived to 
a good old age, and died the 15th of the 12th month, 1684, 
in unity with his brethren. 

And the said meeting which was gathered and settled by 
those faithful labourers aforementioned, now known by the 
name of Eilston Meeting, doth remain ; and the power by 
which it hath been settled is the strength and uphold thereof 
unto this day. 

Likewise near about the same time, the said William 
Dewsbury and James Nayler, had some meetings some miles 
distant from Scalehouse aforesaid ; but Truth getting ground, 
and the number of Friends increasing about where they 
lived, they settled a meeting near a village called Salterforth, 
which is now become a meeting of a considerable number of 
Friends, and is called by the name of Salterforth Meeting. 

Also about the year 1652 or 3, it was so ordered, that 
some of the servants, messengers, and ministers of Jesus 
Christ, were drawn to visit a people at, or near unto a town 
called Bentham, in the west part of Yorkshire, namely, 
William Dewsbury, Eichard Farnsworth, Robert Hall, and 
John Snayden, by whose ministry divers of the said people 
were convinced of the Truth, turned unto Christ their 
teacher, on whom they often met together to wait, who 
gave them to witness the making good of his ancient pro- 
mises, that where two or three were gathered in his name, 
his presence should be in the midst of them ; by which they 



280 APPENDIX. 

were strengthened, and encouraged to continue their chris- 
tian practice of meeting together. And their number, since 
that time, hath much increased, so that they are now 
become a meeting of a considerable number of Friends, 
which is called Bentham Meeting. 

Now the aforesaid Robert Hall, having a concern upon 
him to visit the steeple-house, at Bentham aforesaid, was 
sorely beaten and bruised, in such sort that he died a short 
time after. Moreover, from the aforesaid meeting at Ben- 
tham (there being some convinced) there is a part gone off, 
and a meeting settled, known by the name of Wray Meeting, 
in Lancashire. [Wray Meeting was commenced in 1689.] 

Furthermore, George Fox, at his first coming into the 
north, which was in the year 1652, was directed to the 
house of James Tennant, called Scarhouse, in Longstreth- 
dale, where he preached the Truth in the family ; and by the 
powerful virtue of it, the said James Tennant and his wife 
were reached, so as to receive the Truth in the love of it ; 
where a meeting was soon after settled, and is continued to 
this day, known by the name of Scarhouse Meeting. Now 
the said James Tennant became a serviceable man to Friends 
and Truth in his day ; which was not long after the time of 
his convincement, being taken prisoner for his testimony 
against tithes, from which he did not decline, but patiently 
endured close imprisonment until death. 

In the year 1653, about the 6th month, came two Friends 
out of the North, whose names were Thomas Years and 
Christopher Atkinson, to a little town called Newton, not 
far from Slaidburn, in Bolland, on a Seventh-day, at night, 
and were received by James Bond, a poor man, and had a 
meeting the day following, where several people were con- 
vinced ; and the Second-day of the week, another meeting 
at Cuthbert Hayhurst's, at Essington, where they were well 
received. And a little after, came William Dewsbury to the 



APPENDIX. 281 

house of John Crossdale, and had some meetings there- 
abouts ; and so came down to the house of Richard Leigh, 
and staid there three days and writ some books ; and 
afterwards came to Essington, to Cuthbert Hayhurst' s, and 
had a meeting at Slaidburn, and was pulled down, and the 
town was all in an uproar ; but there were some that were 
convinced by him. Not long after, John Audland came 
and had a meeting at Richard Leigh's, and Alexander Par- 
ker, being come to his father's house, from Lancaster 
where he was convinced, and Cuthbert Hayhurst also being 
convinced, and both of them being called to the ministry, 
with those others who were convinced by the Friends 
aforesaid, began to keep a meeting near unto Newton, 
where there has been one continued ever since, and is called 
Bolland Meeting. 

Note. — The said Cuthbert Hayhurst afterwards became 
an able minister of the Gospel, and travelled in the service 
thereof in divers parts of the nation, and some parts beyond 
the seas, as Jamaica ; and afterwards, with the unity and 
consent of his brethren, removed himself and family to 
Pennsylvania, where he died in full unity with Friends." 



INDEX. 



Acroyd, John, Notice of, 189. 

192. 

Affirmation, 220, 221. 

Airdale, Situation of, 1. 

Airton, Locality of, 1, 55. 

Airton, Meeting-house, 32, 266. 

Alaway, William, 148. 

Aldam, Thomas, 39, 146, 186, 204, 265, 268. 

Notice of, 43. 

Letters to, 43, 52. 

Letter from, 211. 

Alexander, Isaac, Notice of, 188. 

Letter from, 190. 

• 219. 

Andros, Governor, 196. 
Apprentices, Gift for putting out, 267. 
Armistead Elizabeth, 274. 
Armistead, Isaac, 264. 
Armistead John, 38, 263, 277. 
Armistead, John, Jun. 264. 

Armistead, William, 208, 226, 231, 234, 244, 248, 265, 
275. 

Notice of, 207. 

Letters from, 208, 225. 

Atkinson, Aaron, 37, 43, 67, 80, 86, 88, 110, 118, 125, 

12S, 129, 148,152, 153, 164, 186, 233, 

238, 265. 

Notice of, 40. 

Letters from, 67, 1 02, 172. 

Eeturns from America, 172. 



284 TNDEX. 

Atkinson, Alice, 274, 277. 
Atkinson, Christopher, 280. 
Atkinson Francis, 12. 
Atkinson, George, 38. 
Atkinson, John, 264, 274. 
Atkinson, Peter, 188. 
Atkinson, Thomas, 47, 91. 
Atonement, 97, 159. 
Audland, John, 281. 

Baines, James, 219. 

Notice of, 219. 

Barrow, Eobert, Notice of, 25. 

26, 168. 

Battersbie, John, 38, 264. 
Beardsley, Margaret, 148. 
Beckwith, Marmaduke, 39. 
Bentham, 55, 279. 
Bickley, William, 134. 
Biles, William, Notice of, 196. 

Letter from, 196. 

Bingley, William, Notice of, 180. 

182. 

Birkbeck, William, 248, 264. 
Blaykling, John, 39, 219. 

Notice of, 21 8. 

Bond, James, 280. 

Bond, John, 134. 

Bound, Samuel, Letter to, 113. 

Bownas, Samuel, 177, 192, 205, 210, 223. 

Notice of, 222. 

Yisit to William Ellis, 176. 

Bowron, John, Notice of, 187. 

Letter from, J 88. 

Bowstead, John, Notice of, 107. 

Letter from, 108. 

Bradford, John, 40. 
Bradley, 2. 



INDEX. 285 

Bradley, Elizabeth, 274. 
Bradley, John, 239. 
Buck, Thomas, 39. 
Burgess, John,* 39. 
Burleigh, John, Sen. 39. 
Burlington, Meeting held at, 84, 86. 
Butcher, John, Notice of, 179. 
182. 

Cadwallader, John, 200. 

Calton, Locality of, 1. 

Camm, John, 277. 

Camm, Thomas, 275. 

Canby, George, 39. 

Cannabie, Charles, 40. 

Carpenter, Samuel, 85, 226, 227, 233. 

Notice of, 126. 

Letters from, 127, 151, 167. 

Carr, Eleanor, 274. 

Carr, Thomas, 38, 248, 263, 268, 269. 

Certificates of Ministers, 9, 37, 39, 88. 

Chalkley, Thomas, 118, 128, ]94. 

Chanler, John, Letter to, 112. 

Chapman, Thomas, 38. 

Clarke, Thomas, 274. 

Clayton, B, 212. 

Clough, Richard, 264. 

Coleman, Stephen, 148. 

Conyers, James, 12. 

Correspondents, 184, 216. 

CowgiU, John, to the Offspring of Believing Parents, 129. 

Cox, Thomas, 218. 

Crossdale, John, 281. 

Davy, Alice, Marriage of, 4. 

Debt, Running into, 220. 

Dewsbury, William, 276, 278, 279, 280. 

Dickinson, James, Notice of, 13. 



286 INDEX. 

Dickinson, James, 232, 233. 
Dilworth, Ann, 117, 149, 167. 

Yisit to England, 89, 94, 117. 

Dil worth, James, 94, 148. 

Divisions, 229. 

Driver, Grace, 149. 

Driver, Robert, 149. 

Duckett, Thomas, Notice of, 147. 

148, 157. 

Easton, Richard, 102. 
Eccleston, Theodore, 22, 51. 

Letters from, .81, 94, 156, 185. 

Letter to, 131. 

Ecroyd, John, 189. 

Edmundson, William, 34, 142, 191, 192, 238, 242. 

Letters from, 19, 25, 145, 168, 219, 

242. 

Letters to, 21, 27, 133. 

Elders, 195. 

Ellis, Alice, Marriage of, 4. 

Testimony respecting, 271. 

Letters to, 17; 46, 62, 65, 77, 90, 101, 104, 

108, 154. 

> Letters from, 61, 64, 71, 98. 

Legacies, 269. 

Ellis, Rowland, Notice of, 121. 

Letter from, 121 . 

Ellis, Stephen, 1, 256. 
Ellis, William, Birth of, 1. 

Convincement of, 2- 

Imprisonment of, 3. 

Ministry of, 3. 

Embarks for America, 47. 

86, 88. 

and Aaron Atkinson separate, 105, 110. 

Death of, 247. 

Benefactions of, 267. 

Return from America, 129. 



INDEX. 287 

Estaugh, John, 201. 
Notice of, 200. 

Fallowfield, Jacob, 168. 
Farnsworth, Bichard, 278, 279. 
Fawcitt, Walter, 80, 128, 151, 152, 167. 

Visit to England, 89. 

Field, John, Notice of, 101. 

182. 

Letter from, 101. 

Fielden, John, 265. 

Fishbourn, William, Notice of, 122. 

Letters from, 122, 150. 

Foster, Christopher, 38. 

Fothergill, John, 204, 208, 225, 231, 234, 243, 244, 265, 
268. 

Notice of, 206. 

Letter from, 226. 

Fothergill, Samuel, 207. 
Fox, George, Journal of, 132. 

184, 187, 204, 218, 280. 

Epistles of, 166. 

Funeral of, 180. 

Fox, George, 148. 
Fox, James, 148. 
Franklaud, Julian, 248, 274. 
Freeborn, Susanna, 231. 

Notice of, 229. 

Friends, Sundry, Letter from, 162. 
Frost, Mary, Notice of, 4. 

5 - * 

Gabbitus, William, Letter from, 116. 

Gambel, Elizabeth, 86. 

Galloway, Samuel, Letters to, 139, 173. 

Letter from, 164. 

" Gift, William and Alice Ellis's," 267. 
GiU Estate, 73. 



288 INDEX. 

Gill, Roger, Notice of, 149. 

95, 125, 128, 129, 148, 151, 152, 157. 

Glaister, Joseph, 233, 234. 
Gold, Present of, 153. 
Gould, Daniel, Notice of, 107. 

Letter from, 107. 

231. 

Gouldney, Henry, Notice of, 204. 

Letter from, 205. 

Gove, Richard, Notice of, 128. 

129, 152. 

Gratton, John, Notice of, 235. 

Letter from, 235. 

28. 

Gray, Mary, 148. 

Gregson, George, 186. 

Green, Abraham, Letter to, 223. 

Greene, Thomas, 39, 265. 

Grimshaw, Jeremiah, 182, 186, 204, 221, 265. 

Testimony respecting, 186. 

Grimshaw, John, 186. 
Gwinn, Thomas, Notice of, 6. 
Letter from, 6. 

Halhead, Miles, 278. . 
Hall, Elizabeth, 274. 
Hall, John, 39. 

Notice of, 44. 

Letter to, 45. 

Hall, Joseph, 264, 274. 

Hall, Robert, 279, 280. 

Hammond, Thomas, IrO, 265. 

Hardcastle, Peter, 39. 

Hardiman, Abraham, 152. 

Harding, John, 40. 

Harmony of the Old and New Testaments, Tomkins's, 182. 

Harrison, Prancis, 39, 268. 

Harrison, Samuel, 155. 

Hartley, William, 12. 



INDEX. 289 



Harwood, William, 148. 
Hay dock, Elizabeth, 2. 
Haydock, John, Notice of, 137. 

139. 

Hay dock, Eobert, 28. 

91. 

Haydock, Roger, 1, 28, 94, 249, 256. 

Testimony respecting, 34. 

Haylmrst, Cuthbert, 280, 281. 
Heathcot, Gilbert, Notice of, 178. 

Letter from, 178. 

Heaton, Eobert, 66, 93. 
Hill, James, 133, 237. 
Hill, John, 279. 
HiU, Richard, 144, 164. 

Notice of, 143. 

Hillary, John, 265. 

Hird, Ann, 248. 

Hodson, Elizabeth, 2. 

Holland, 81, 94. 

Holt, William, 263, 264. 

Holy Spirit, Teaching of, 76. 

Hopwood, Alexander, 39. 

Hornor, Benjamin, 265. 

Hoskins, Esther, 148. 

Hoskins, Richard, Visit to Maryland, &c. 90. 

Huberstie, Robert, Notice of, 180. 

182 
HulieyrEdward,'218. ' 
Hulley, John, 243. 
Hunter, Stephen, 39. 

Ibason, Richard, 38. 

Imprisonment for School-keeping, 119. 

Indians, Distress from, 226, 227. 

Intolerance, 180. 

Ireland, Yisit to, 9. 

Jackson, Henry, Jun. 265, 268. 



290 INDEX. 

Janney, Thomas,, Notice of, 84. 

86. 

Jennings, Samuel, Notice of, 84. 

Letter from, 233. 

197. 

Jepson, John, 39. 

Jewish Church, 184. 

Jones, Griffith, 86, 89. 

Johns, Abraham, Letter from, 124. 

Johns, Richard, Letters from, 128, 231. 

Letters to, 138, 173, 207. 

Johnson, Thomas, 40. 

Notice of, 69. 

Letter to, 69. 

Kay, Jonathan, 188. 

Kay, "William, 188. 

Keith, George, Notice of, 78. 

79, 89, 134, 215, 222. 

Kelsall, John, 245. 

Kidd, John, 38, 277. 

Kindell, Abraham, 40. 

Kingshall, Ann, 46, 248. 

King, Henry, 38. 

King, John, 248, 263. 

King, Lawrence, 64, 192, 236, 242, 248, 263. 

Notice of, 189. 

Kirkbride, Joseph, 126, 128, 152, 167. 
Knipe, George, Notice of, 239. 
Letter from, 239. 

Lapham, John, 163. 
Lapham, Mary, 163. 
Law, George, 114. 
Lazenby, Michael, 39. 
Leeds, Daniel, 88, 90. 
Leemin, George, 13, 38. 
Leigh, Richard, 281. 
Lewis, John, 139. 



INDEX. 291 



Lloyd, David, 227. 

Lodge, Eobert, 186. 

Loft, John, 39. 

Longdale, Josiah, Notice of, 203. 

204, 234. 

Lowe, Eleanor, 2. 

Meeting for Sufferings, 216, 238. 
Middleton, Bossall, 39, 268. 
Milner, Michael, 40, 268. 
Ministers, Acknowledgment of, 247. 

Advice to, 87. 

Payment of, 103. 

Young, Care over, 237. 

Ministers and Elders, Meetings of, 71. 

Mitchell, Henry, 149. 

Mixed Marriages, 193. 

Monthly Meetings, 193. 

Moon, Paul, 81. 

Moor, John, Jun. 264. 

Moore, Elizabeth, 64. 

Moore, John, 38, 39, 64, 264, 269, 275. 

Morning Meeting at York, 181. 

Morris, Anthony, 116. 

Notice of, 126. 

Letters from, 126, 222. 

Mott, Cassandra, 163. 
Mott, Jacob, Jun. 163. 

Notice of, 162. 

Mott, Joanna, 163. 
Musgrave, Thomas, 39. 
Musgrave, Thomas, Notice of, 147. 

149, 152. 

Myers, George, 28, 91, 105. 

Nayler, James, 187, 278, 279. 
Needham Market, 73. 
Negroes, 68. 
Newbery, Leah, Letter from, 230. 



292 INDEX. 

Newby, Gabriel, 201. 

Newby, Nathan, Letter to, 192. 

Letter from, 1 98. 

"News of a Trumpet," 85, 88, 90. 
Newton-brBolland, 55, 280. 
Nicholson, Joseph, 248, 275. 

Oaths, 220, 221. 

Oracle, 181. 

Overseers, Letter to, 95. 

Owen, Griffith, Notice of, 78. 

Letter from, 124. 

79, 86, 129. 

Page, Thomas, 199. 
Paidge, Thomas, 134. 
Parker, Alexander, 281. 
Parkinson, Phineas, 12, 91. 
Passengers, Death of, 149, 152. 
Pearce, Richard, Notice of, ]88. 
Pearce, Thomas, Notice of, 188. 

191. 

Pemberton, Phineas, Notice of, 115. 

Letter from, 115. 

Penn, William, 144, 168, 178, 183, 196, 197, 206, 241. 

Pentecost, 216. 

Perrot, John, 167. 

Pike, Joseph, Notice of, 16. 

Letter from, 16. 

Letter to, 32. 

136. 

Pinder, Thomas, 39. 
Pittstow, Thomas, 218. # 
Plumstead, Prancis, Notice of, 48. 

Letters from, 49, 215, 218. 

204. 

Potter, John, 248. 

Public Priends, Meeting of, 71. 

Puckle, Nathaniel, 152. 



INDEX. 293 

Pusey, Caleb, Notice of, 85. 
88, 90. 

Eandal, Samuel, Notice of, 16. 

Letter from, 16. 

Letter to, 32. 

136. 

Eawlinson, Abraham, 206. 
Eawson, John, 264, 268, 269, 274. 
Bead, Thomas, 263. 
Eeal, John, Notice of, 4. 

Letter from, 5. 

Ehodes, Sir John, 178. 

Notice of, 212. 

Letter from, 213. 

Ehodes, Martha, 212. 

Eich, James, 39. 

Eichardson, John, Notice of, 4. 

5, 78, 162, 182, 183, 199, 200, 201, 

203, 229, 233, 265. 
Eilston Meeting and Meeting-house, 32, 55, 279. 
Eix, "William, Letter to, 139. 
Eoberts, Hugh, 122. 
Eobinson, John, 38. 
Eobinson, Michael, 265. 
Eobinson, William, 156, 167, 218. 
Eodman, Thomas, Notice of, ] 94. 

Letter to, 194. 

Letter from, 243. 

Eodman, John, 134, 210. 

Letter from, 210. 

Eogers, Mary, Notice of, 85. 

Yisit to Barbadoes, 189. 

86, 168. 

Eook, George, 146, 170, 191, 238. 

Notice of, 189. 

Eudd, Thomas, 178, 248. 
Eussell, Hasadiah, 163. 



294 INDEX. 

Sakra, Daniel, 102. 
Salterforth Meeting, 55, 279. 
Sanders, Charles, 148. 
Scalehouse Meeting, 32, 278, 279. 
Scarhouse Meeting, 55, 78, 280.. 
Scarth, Joseph, Notice of, 171. 

Letter from, 171. 

Scostrop, Locality of, 1. 
Scostrop, Richard, Notice of, 32. 

_278. 

Scriptural Instruction, 174, 193. 

Sedgwick, Jane, 248. 

Sedgwick, Stephen, 248. 

Selside Meeting, 55, 278. 

Settle Meeting, 55. 

Settle Monthly Meeting, Certificates of, 9, 37. 

Epistles to, 13, 55, 59, 92. 

274, 275. 

« Gathering of, 275. 

Shackleton, John, 274. 

Sharpe, William, 39. 

Shippen, Edward, Notice of, 153. 

Letter from, 153. 

102, 197. 

Shippen, Eebecca, 197. 
Simpson, James, 265. 
Simpson, Mary, 179. 
Slack, John, Letter from, 155. 
Slaidburn, 280, 281. 
Slater, William, 248, 264. 
Slocum, Eleazer, 163. 
Slocum, Mary, 163. 
Slocum, Peleg, Notice of, 162. 

163. 

Smales, Miriam, 171. 
Smith, Francis, 265. 
Smith, John, 39. 
Smyth, Thomas, 148. 
Snayden, John, 279. 



INDEX. 295 

South America, Visit to, 187. 
Southebe, William, Letter from, 121. 
. Sowle, J. 252. 

Sparrow, Solomon, Letter to, 139. 
Squire, Adam, 38, 47, 9],- 106, 155, 263. 

Notice of, 73, 

Letter from, 73. 

Letter to, 82. 

Stinkhom, 181. 

Stockdale, Thomas, 12, 38, 47, 91, 105. 

Stockdale, William, 264, 274. 

Story, Thomas, 68, 95, 125, 128, 129, 148, 149, 150, 153, 

157, 162, 242. 
Stott, Abigail, 2, 18, 45, 46. 

Notice of, 247. 

Testimony of, 248. 

Stott, Jacob, 251. 

Stott, John, 2, 45, 248, 256. 

Stow, Jennet, Notice of, 178. 

248. 

"Strange Thing/' 180, 182. 
Strettal, Amos, 136, 146. 
Stubbs, Thomas, 278. 
Swire, Thomas, 17. 

Tathain, Christopher, 106. 
Tatham, James, Notice of, 7. 

Letter from, 8. 

204, 205, 215. 

Tatham, John, Notice of, 9. 

8. 

Tatham, Thomas, 266. 
Taylor, John, Notice of, 184. 

39,186. 

Taylor, Jonathan, and Negroes, 68. 
Tennant, James, 280. 
Testimony of Abigail Stott, 248. 

of Alice Ellis, 252. 

respecting Alice Ellis, 271. 



296 INDEX. 

Testimony of Thomas Thompson, 254. 

of Settle Monthly Meeting, 256. 

respecting Roger Hay dock, 34. 

respecting Jeremiah Grimshaw, 186. 

respecting John Wynn, 159. 

of York Quarterly Meeting, 264. 

Thomas, Edward, 199. 
Thomas, Samuel, Letter to, 139. 
Thompson, Francis, 40. 
Thompson, Gilbert, Notice of, 119. 

Letters from, 119, 142. 

Thompson, Thomas, Notice of, 201. 

Letter from, 201. 

39, 146, 203, 204, 230, 234. 

Thompson, William, 40. 

Tillotson, Phoebe, 248. 

Tomes, Francis, Letter from, 200. 

Letter to, 236. 

133. 

Tomkins, John, Notice of, 40. 

Letters from, 40, 50, 117, 144, 181, 183, 

203. 

82, 182,155,164, 217. 

Tomlinson, John, Letter to, 30. 

105, 263, 268, 269. 

Townsend, William, 82. 
Trafford, Thomas, Notice of, 10. 

189, 192. 

Trustees, 268. 
Tucker, Abraham, 163. 
Tucker, Hannah, 163. 
Tucker, John, Notice of, 162. 

103, 163. 

Tucker, Ruth, 163. 

Tunstall, Robert, 264, 269. 

Turner, Robert, 265. 

Turner, Thomas, Yisit to America, 88, 90. 

118. 



INDEX. 297 



Years, Thomas, 280. 



Wade, John, 106. 

Waithman, James, Notice of, ] 80. 

182. 

Waldenrleld, Samuel, 180. 

Walker, John, 39. 

Wain, Nicholas, Notice of, 78. 

Letter from, 147. 

93. 

Walton, James, 248. 
Wanton, Joseph, 103. 
Wardell, Robert, Notice of, 25. 

26, 168. 

Watson, Mar j, 248. 
Watson, Samuel, 38, 248. 
Weatherall, John, 264. 
Webb, Elizabeth, Notice of, 85. 

86. 

White, William, 39. 
Wilcock, Stephen, 163. 
Wilde, Thomas, Notice of, 216. 

38, 248, 263. 

Wildman, James, 248. 

Wildman, Martin, 93. 

Wildman, Richard, 248. 

Wilkinson, Hannah, 274. 

Wilkinson, John, 167. 

Wilkinson, Richard, 12, 13, 18, 38, 47, QQ } 80, 91, 105, 

227, 263, 269. 
Wilkinson, Simeon, Notice of, 75. 

Letters to, 29, 75. 

264, 269, 274. 

WiUs, Daniel, 41. 
Wills, Hope, 41. 
Wills, John, 41. 
Wilson, Agnes, 199. 
Wilson, Ann, Notice of, 205. 
206, 222. 



298 INDEX. 

Wilson, Ann, 237. 

Wilson, James, Notice of, 177. 

176, 188. 

Wilson, Thomas, Notice of, 232. 

149, 152, 233. 

Windle, William, 38, 264. 

Wood, John, 88. 

Woodson, John, 68. 

Wray Meeting, 280. 

Wrong Spirits, 229. 

Wyld, William, Notice of, 185. 

186. 

Wynn, John, Notice of, 108, 159. 

Letters to, 24, 109. 

Testimony respecting, 159. 

24, 155. 

Wynn, Stephen, 39. 

Yearly Meeting at Lancaster, 245. 
Yellow Fever, 147, 148, 151, 152, 157. 
York Quarterly Meeting, Certificate of, 39. 



JOHN L. LINNEY, PRINTER, 15, LOW OUSEGATE, YORK. 



AUG -0 !9'i2 




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